Elephants Need Help OR what this girl needs is a little context

Religious fanaticism friggin' sucks. I'm all for the Lord, don't get me wrong. But from what I've gathered, religions in general do not revere wealth or greed or money. I always thought it was more about love, peace, and charity. 
This rant branched off of the National Geographic article 'Blood Ivory', which can be read HERE. 
   I quote from the article, in a paragraph discussing religious icons: "Many believe that what you invest in devotion to your own icon determines what blessings you will receive in return. For some, then, a fiberglass or wooden icon is not enough. For them, the material of choice is elephant ivory." 
   I do not believe that people need statues, much less expensive ones, to receive more powerful blessings. Statues merely provide a tangible form to pray to, to kneel in front of. They aren't necessary. You can have icons inside your head, or you can find them around you in nature. To spend large amounts of money on ivory religious figures is ludicrous. It's not worth the massacre of elephants, it really isn't. And the sooner people realise that, the more sane our world will be. 
   Who are we, humans, to decide what happens to other species? The more we desiccate our fellow living things, the lower and lower we sink. If you don't value and respect other species as much as you do your own, you are well on your way up the river. 

In another article (how to help), Last Great Ape Organization (LAGA) founder Ofir Drori says that for the ivory smuggling operation to exist, "dozens of corrupt generals, magistrates, and mayors must have been involved in order to ensure that it worked. It just shows you how organized the ivory trade is." I just don't understand, morally, what goes on in people's heads. You'd think that once you were rich enough, once you had the big houses and the fancy cars, you would stop needing more. 

Another recent NG article (here) illustrates other immense, uncalled-for wealth and spending. Tell me your opinions on the Roma Kings. Because we all know what happens after periods of gluttony like this. 
   
Apologies for the scattered manner of this post, but the issue is so large and I can't possibly set the stage for it. Just go read the articles.