Report on Activities of Jay Cutler and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction

This report details recent activities involving former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler, specifically a hunting expedition in Africa and a separate legal incident in the United States. These events are analyzed in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular focus on SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

2.0 African Hunting Expedition and Public Response

Mr. Cutler documented a hunting trip in Africa, believed to be South Africa, via his social media account. The posts, which featured a killed animal, generated significant public criticism regarding the ethics and legality of hunting a potentially endangered species.

2.1 Social Media Documentation

• An initial post on Saturday showed Mr. Cutler with a killed animal, identified as a sable, captioned: “Kicked off the Africa hunt with a beauty. Sable down.”
• A subsequent video detailed the hunting process.
• A follow-up post on Monday featured another image of a sable with the caption: “Another great day.”
• The posts tagged Tyityaba Hunting Safaris, a company that organizes such expeditions.

2.2 Public Reaction

The posts were met with negative comments from the public, questioning the necessity and sportsmanship of hunting a wild animal in this manner.

3.0 Conservation Status and Conflict with SDG 15: Life on Land

The animal hunted by Mr. Cutler appears to be a giant sable, a species with a critically endangered conservation status. This action is in direct opposition to the objectives outlined in SDG 15, which aims to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

3.1 Species Status

According to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the giant sable is nearly extinct, with fewer than 100 mature individuals remaining, primarily in Angola. The species is threatened by habitat loss, poaching, and historical conflict.

3.2 Contravened Targets of SDG 15

The hunting of a critically endangered species undermines several key targets of SDG 15:

1. Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
2. Target 15.7: Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products.
3. Target 15.c: Enhance global support for efforts to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species, including by increasing the capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable livelihood opportunities.

4.0 Legal Issues and Conflict with SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

A separate incident in October in Tennessee further highlights a disregard for established legal and social frameworks, which are central to SDG 16.

4.1 Details of Arrest

Mr. Cutler was arrested and faced multiple charges following a vehicle accident:

• Driving under the influence (DUI)
• Failure to exercise due care
• Violation of implied consent law
• Possession of a handgun while under the influence

4.2 Contravened Targets of SDG 16

The circumstances of the arrest, particularly a reported offer of $2,000 to the other driver to prevent a police report, conflict with the principles of SDG 16:

1. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
2. Target 16.5: Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.

These actions challenge the integrity of legal institutions and the principle of accountability.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

The issues highlighted in the article, namely the hunting of an endangered species and a DUI arrest involving bribery, are connected to the following Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 15: Life on Land – This goal focuses on protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, halting biodiversity loss, and combating poaching and trafficking of protected species.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – This goal aims to promote the rule of law, reduce violence, and fight corruption and bribery.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

Based on the article’s content, several specific targets under SDG 15 and SDG 16 can be identified:

SDG 15: Life on Land

• Target 15.5: “Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.”
  • Explanation: The article directly addresses this target by focusing on the hunting of a giant sable. It cites the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, stating the species is “critically endangered” and “nearly extinct,” with “fewer than 100 mature individuals” remaining. The act of hunting such a rare animal works directly against the goal of protecting threatened species from extinction.
• Target 15.7: “Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products.”
  • Explanation: While the article describes a hunt arranged by a safari company and not explicitly illegal poaching, the killing of a “critically endangered” animal for sport is at the core of the issue this target addresses. The public criticism mentioned (“Why is this necessary?”) reflects a societal rejection of the “demand” for such trophies, which fuels the pressure on protected species.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.1: “Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.”
  • Explanation: The article mentions Cutler was “charged with driving under the influence… after an accident involving another vehicle” and “possession of a handgun while under the influence.” Driving under the influence is a reckless act that significantly increases the risk of violent accidents, injury, and death, which this target aims to reduce.
• Target 16.3: “Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.”
  • Explanation: Cutler’s arrest and charges for “driving under the influence, failure to exercise due care, violation of implied consent law and possession of a handgun while under the influence” are a direct reflection of the rule of law in action. The legal process that follows an arrest is a fundamental component of this target.
• Target 16.5: “Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.”
  • Explanation: This target is explicitly relevant due to the detail from the police report that “Cutler offered the driver of the vehicle he hit $2,000 to not call police and report the accident.” This is a clear example of an attempt at bribery to subvert the course of justice, an action this target seeks to eliminate.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

The article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

Indicators for SDG 15

• Implied Indicator for Target 15.5: The Red List Index.
  • Explanation: The article’s description of the giant sable as “critically endangered” directly refers to its status on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, which is the basis for the Red List Index (Indicator 15.5.1). The mention of the population size (“fewer than 100 mature individuals”) is a direct measure used to assess a species’ conservation status.

Indicators for SDG 16

• Implied Indicator for Target 16.1: Number of victims of violence/accidents.
  • Explanation: The article mentions a “car accident involving another vehicle.” Data on injuries and deaths from traffic accidents, particularly those involving alcohol, are key metrics for measuring progress in reducing violence-related death rates (related to Indicator 16.1.1).
• Implied Indicator for Target 16.3: Proportion of population subject to a crime who reported it to competent authorities.
  • Explanation: The article notes that Cutler was arrested and charged, implying that the accident was reported to the police despite his attempt to prevent it. The functioning of the justice system, from police reports to formal charges (“was arrested in Tennessee and charged”), serves as a qualitative indicator of the rule of law.
• Direct Indicator for Target 16.5: Proportion of persons who have been asked for a bribe.
  • Explanation: The article provides a specific instance of attempted bribery: “Cutler offered the driver of the vehicle he hit $2,000 to not call police.” This event is a direct, qualitative data point that falls under Indicator 16.5.1, which measures the prevalence of bribery experienced by the population when interacting with officials (or in this case, attempting to avoid interaction with officials).

Summary of Findings

Source: nj.com