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IWMC
World Conservation Trust |
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International
Conference Announcement:
The Oceanographic Information Resources
The actual problems of development, dissemination and
using for research and marine activities.
7-12 October 2002, Obninsk, Russia
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The main aim of the Conference is to sum up the experiences with
accomplishing the first stage of ESIMO, to highlight the history of sea and
ocean exploration and to attract the attention of scientists and experts to the
following problems: state of the art and prospects of expeditionary research of
the World Ocean; update, management and use of as well as access to the
oceanographic data fund, which serves as the main data base for fundamental
research and applied works in the field of marine environment utilisation and
protection.
Information on the Conference are available at
http://www.meteo.ru/nodc/oir2002/index.htm or by contacting: vjaz@meteo.ru
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Special Tribute
to Anil Agarwal
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Anil Agarwal was simply a remarkable champion of
rational approaches to conservation in India, and his premature death is a
serious loss to the cause of sustainable use, and to the welfare of many of
India’s poorest people... those who depend directly on local resources. IWMC
never had the opportunity to meet Anil Agarwal personally, but his many
remarkable contributions as editor to "Down to Earth", one of the
world leading journals on pragmatic environment issues, were simply stunning in
their depth and simplicity. He was clearly a man of great wisdom.
Those close to him speak of his humbleness, clarity of vision, strength,
courage and daunting ability to track multiple issues. His strong and
"down to earth" voice for rational approaches to conservation and
environmental management in India, with its many complex problems, stand in
stark contrast to the performance of some official Indian delegations at
international meetings. So strong is their commitment to protectionism, that
they give the impression people are the enemy of conservation... rather than
legitimate beneficiaries.
The loss of Anil Agarwal represents the loss of a conservation champion on a
global scale. We can be thankful that his influence on the "Down to
Earth" production team has been profound, and has increased their resolve
to maintain a strong voice for India’s people and environments. 
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