EDITORIAL:
For
those who relate colors to a certain creed, green has been the choice for
those who subscribe to a natural and ecological philosophy. As white symbolizes
the pureness of our souls, green has been chosen to describe a positive
attitude towards conservation.
What is the real meaning of being green? Notwithstanding, the concept of green appears to be different in El Salvador, home of one of the greenest reptiles in the world, the Green iguana (Iguana iguana). The overexploitation of this resource for local consumption of its meat and eggs apparently has led to a very serious situation. The government authorities have banned any type of catch until April 1999. On the other hand, volumes of export of this species, mainly to the United States where they are sold commercially as pets, reach almost a half million specimens a year. If wild populations are in decline in that country and captive breeding operations to sustain such export figures seem almost impossible, where do these specimens come from? The species has a wide distribution. Could this mean a certain "laundering operation" taking place in this specific country? The efforts of the CITES Animals Committee to address the situation in El Salvador did not succeed. Apparently the United States does not understand the subject in the same way. The distracted behavior of the USFWS officials towards such a significant trade is far from a green attitude. On the other hand, the U.S. authorities understand that they should assume a firm position regarding banning wildlife exports from Guyana. Is this because exports of CITES from this country are mainly consumed by other countries than U.S.? Apparently, the protection of pet markets in the US is more significant than having a green attitude towards the conservation of wild populations of Iguana in El Salvador and neighboring countries like Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Costa Rica. Did you say, "Green" means "safe
ecological practices"? At this stage...who knows?š
Constitution
of IWMC-CH
On
26 April 1999, representatives of trade, industry, the scientific community
and other groups integrally tied to the sustainable use of nature's resources
met in Bern, Switzerland and established the IWMC-Switzerland (which will
be referred to as IWMC-CH) as a national section within the IWMC World
Conservation Trust.
IWMC-CH's mission is to promote the principle of sustainable use of renewable natural resources as a mechanism for the rational use and conservation of wildlife and wild areas. IWMC-CH will also provide support for its members. One of the main objectives of IWMC-CH
will be to incite the authorities of Switzerland to continue the implementation
of their long term policy of conservation of wild species on a rational
rather than emotional basis, both at the national level and within international
organizations such as CITES.š
Experimental
trade in ivory
Further
to messages published in the first two issues of our IWMC Newsletter, we
are pleased to inform you that the stocks of ivory that Botswana, Namibia
and Zimbabwe were allowed to trade to Japan have been sold by mid-April,
under the supervision of the CITES Secretariat. It appears that the prices
obtained for this ivory were in general satisfactory. Consequently, the
three States will dispose of significant sums of money to be used for the
conservation of natural resources, the African elephant in particular.
Some of this money should also be provided to local communities sharing
their environment with elephants. This would contribute in another way
to the conservation of the species. The shipment of the ivory to Japan
should take place in the next few weeks, still under the control of the
Secretariat. Congratulations to all actors involved for this new victory
for the conservation, including the sustainable use, of the African elephant.š
IWMC World
Conservation Trust
The
World Council of Whalers drew heartfelt praise and a pledge of support
from IWMC World Conservation Trust President Eugene Lapointe as its Second
Annual General Assembly drew to a close in Reykjavik, Iceland, March 30.
Salutes World Council of Whalers Mr. Lapointe and fellow participants voiced how impressed they were with the quality of panelists and information exchanged on sustainability of marine mammal resources and ancient cultures alike. "As whales increase in the world's oceans once again and people exercise their own special traditions of whale use and whale appreciation, the bounty of the seas will not only provide food for human bodies, but nourishment for human souls," said Mr. Lapointe. Key themes addressed at the four-day gathering of representatives from 21 nations were the need for regional management of marine resources, cetacean conservation strategies, impact of burgeoning whale populations on fish resources, and the dietary needs of coastal communities. The participants also discussed the political implications of the upcoming meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in Grenada. The even-handed approach to the promotion
of the globally sustainable use of cetacean resources and to the preservation
of cultural values and ethnic identities of whaling people and nations
pointed out the reason behind the rapid success and credibility of WCW
since its inception in February, 1997. By contrast, the IWC is losing global
respect specifically because it rejects scientific rationales for its actions,
demeans native whaling cultures and has become a pawn of powerful, well-funded
"non-use" NGOs.š
HSUS Launches
Pre-IWC
With
delegates preparing to descend on Grenada for the 51st meeting of the International
Whaling Commission May 24-29, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
and other extreme NGOs launched their traditional media campaign to manipulate
public opinion against whaling cultures.Their immediate target is the Caribbean
Island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Campaign Against Whalers HSUS claim's St. Vincent's whalers
killed a mother and baby humpback whale on March 6th to the "horror" of
whale-watching tourists. HSUS wants an outraged public to pressure to end
the IWC-approved two-whale per year quota for St. Vincent.
St. Vincent fisheries officials deny HSUS' claim citing DNA and other tests on the whales that showed the adult female whale was not lactating and that the younger whale had no milk in its stomach. The questionable nature of HSUS'
claim was verified at a recent strategy meeting between officials of the
U.S. IWC delegation and NGO representatives in Washington DC. Both
government and NGO attendees admitted that no description of a "calf" exists
and that one must be fabricated prior to IWC if the move against Caribbean
whaling is to succeed.š
IFAW Ads
Draw Thumbs Down
The
on-going cultural campaign against Canadian sealers and English fox hunters
by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) suffered critical blows
to its credibility in Canadian court and by the British Advertising Standards
Authority.
by Canadian & British Authotiries The ASA found an IFAW advertisement purporting to show cruel practices against foxes and aged hounds by British fox hunters, lacking in evidence and misleading. The IFAW ad claimed a film clip, evidence proved to be at least thirty years old, represented current practices by fox hunters. The 23-minute IFAW anti-sealing videotape was used by the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans to bring 17 charges under the Marine Mammal Act against seven Newfoundland sealers was tossed out of court by Provincial court Judge Robert Fowler. Chris Wicke, the IFAW camera man, was labeled a "sophisticated con man" by Judge Fowler who cited 77 gaps within the tape and a 10-month delay by IFAW before delivering it to Canadian authorities for his belief that the purported documentary was deliberately manipulated. IFAW Canadian Director Rick Smith
claimed the video is representative of commercial seal hunts and that it
was shot in "short segments" for use on television. The sealers' lawyer,
Averill Baker responded that the video is being used to prosecute "a Canadian
citizen, not for television."š
Furry Critters
Beware of the Netherlands
The
Netherlands, long one of the key nations used by animal rights NGOs to
further their non-use agendas on whales and other abundant wildlife, appears
less than a shining knight when it comes to the welfare of furry rodents.
A shipment of 440 Chinese squirrels destined for Greece were fed alive into a mechanical tree branch "shredder" by KLM, the Netherland's national airlines. The squirrels' shipment papers were not in order. Rather than seek a "humane" solution, the airline chose the least most expedient way of dealing with the bureaucratic paperwork glitch. Word of the gory incident leaked
to the press caused considerable embarrassment for the nation that led
the protest against European importation of sustainably trapped fur. No
such shame has been voiced by Dutch authorities over the wholesale slaughter
and waste of some 400,000 muskrats yearly to protect their dikes.š
General Information
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