Oza, Gunavant M.

Polunin, Nicholas

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Conferences & Meetings 185think-tank of oceanography; an attempt is being made toenlist third-world countries in thinking and planningschemes; and there is a plan to create an interface betweenscientists and planners with a starting date of 1997.Of the programme itself, several things can be said. Thelogistic, social, and gastronomic, aspects were unexcelled.The absence of the all-too-common high registration fees(registration was 'gratis') made the conference accessibleto a wide range of registrants, and to students as well asseasoned researchers. The (also free) two excursions wereoutstanding and exhausting (more than 12 hours apiece),and the usual procession of politicians who want to be seenand heard (a common occurrence nowadays at manysymposia) had been curtailed. The scientific programmewas not as finely tuned as the physical and financialhostmanship: cancellations of speakers were hardly, if atall, announced, leaving blocks of time unused; chairmenoften did not control necessary time-limits, so that in oneinstance the last speakers in one session were left with twominutes each for their presentations. Furthermore, most ofthe content of some papers had been heard at previousmeetings, while other papers presented generalities thatcontributed little to the avowed aims of the conference.The conference had four aspects, including an attrac-tive exhibit in the hall of the Hotel de la Region; but beingplaced one floor below 'where the action was', this did notget the attention it deserved, although the effort of the IOCwas meritorious and educative.Of actual proceedings there were plenary sessions, afew parallel meetings, special events, and a large display ofposters (153 announced, with close to 95% actuallydisplayed). The major subdivisions of the programme,exclusive of political presentations, were evolutionary pro-cesses, case studies, international organizations' present-ations, natural and major risks in the coastal zone (CZ),processes and modelling, informatics and the CZ, educ-ation and training (perhaps the thinnest attended), legalmatters (where little new was told), and matters of Naturehaving importance to developing areas.The major public debates, labelled as roundtables butwith very little input from the audience, dealt with the'Nouvelle politique francaise d'amenagement du territoirepour les zones littorales' and 'study of the coasts ofAquitaine'.Synthesis and conclusions were presented on the morn-ing of the last day. It was refreshing that, instead of thecommon platitudes and self-congratulatory statements, theanalysis was straightforward, the summaries reflected whathad been said and focused on the new ideas brought forth,and that it was freely admitted that close contacts betweenvarious disciplines — between scientists and their socialcounterparts, and between researchers and policy-makers(an aim of the conference) — has not truly, in the view ofmany, been achieved. It may be regretted that little or noanalysis was made of the posters, many of which wereexcellent, informative, and innovative, though apparentlynot much favoured as a means of expression of seriousscientific facts and circumstances.ROGER H. CHARLIER, Professor EmeritusFree University of Brussels (VUB)Scientific Adviser to CEO ofHaecon NVB-9031 GhentBelgium.INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE FOR ANIMALRIGHTS, HELD AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCECENTRE, PLACE VAREMBE, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND,ON 6 MARCH 1995The second trial by the International Court of Justice forAnimal Rights brought the plight of butchery animals intransit once again into the limelight. The earlier trial washeld on 1st March 1993. The further public hearing cumtrial was organized by Franz Weber, Secretary-General ofthe United Animal Nations.The presentations by experts and extensive filmedevidence revealed that, in spite of persistent public protests,over 250 million butchery animals still cross Europeanfrontiers every year, being made to travel thousands ofkilometres under monstrous conditions for profit. For,shipping the animals alive is much cheaper than slaughter-ing them in the nearest abattoir and transporting the meat inrefrigerated trucks.Animals Tormented for GainIt was shameful to watch the filmed agony and horrorwhich the animals had to endure during these transport-ations. The sequence commences with packing the animalslike sardines in three- or four-storeyed trucks, in whichthey are apt to be starved of food and often deprived ofwater for days on end, and often face glaring sun or severecold. The professional transporters kick the animals andmay knock them down. They are also apt to be beaten andprodded with current-laden pokers. Shall the world citizensever imagine that their lunch and supper dishes served withmeat are the end-products of the pitiful fate of butcheryanimals on their long death journey?It is horrible to witness punched-out eyes, torn-off ears,broken horns, smashed limbs, hipbones, and backbones —rated as 'normal' transport damages, 'trifles' in the jargonof the shippers.At the end of film-projections, highlighting monstroustreatment of animals, one of the Authors (G.M.O.), whoserved on the 12-member international jury, put a pertinentquestion before the audience and the witnesses, as towhether we deserved a right to be classified as civilizedmembers of society in view of our toleration of such be-haviour! Surely, alternative human diet or due cautionwould put an end to such inhuman acts. However, thepreferences and priorities are accorded to profits for tradersand insurers; even huge subsidies are granted to exportersand horrible transport of animals is of least concern.Purpose of the TrialThe primary purpose of the trial was to call publicly toaccount the trade associations and politicians responsiblefor such unworthy deeds, and with the support of publicopinion bring the European governments and MPs to take,finally, the only decision worthy of a civilized continent —to ban these shameful transports.The named accused included Jacques Santer, Presidentof the European Commission; Boris N. Yeltsin, Presidentof the Federation of Russia; Lech Valensa, President of theRepublic of Poland; the ministers of agriculture of the 15countries of the European Union; the Swiss Federation ofHorse Breeders and the Veterinary Office of Switzerland.The case heard the Plaintiffs, Witnesses, Experts, andDefence. The Court members were from Austria, Belgium,France, Germany, India, Switzerland, and USA.https:/www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892900010377Downloaded from https:/www.cambridge.org/core. University of Basel Library, on 11 Jul 2017 at 12:37:13, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at186 Environmental ConservationThe verdict of the International Court of Justice forAnimal Rights asked the Patriarch of Constantinople tocondemn solemnly the horror transports of livestock and togive urgent instructions to the clergy by reminding themthat animals are God's creatures — the same as humanbeings. The Court further asked the churches to break theirguilty silence by condemning openly and publicly thecontempt of Man towards the animal world and the un-necessary suffering he inflicts on animals for his own greedand pleasure.Verdict Regarding PersonsThe Court found the President of Russia (Boris N.Yeltsin), the President of Poland (Lech Valensa), andagriculture ministers of the 15 countries of the EuropeanUnion, guilty of tolerating and encouraging the describedtreatment of animals and for not taking remedial measures.The Court renewed its sentence against the accused forignoring, and treating with contempt, the will of vastnumbers of Europeans who demanded abolition of cruelanimal transports. The Court also appealed to Europeancitizens to accept no longer the criminal activities ofpoliticians and others who, for profit, continue to sendhundreds of millions of animals to the horror of inter-national livestock transit and thereby also endangeringpublic health.The Court also appealed to the European consumers todemand that the origin of meat and the duration of transportwhich the animals had had to endure before slaughter beclearly indicated in the butcher's shop and on all wrappingat every place of sale. Overproduction of slaughter animalswas considered a crime by the Court which stressed the factthat domestic animals, unlike wheat and tomatoes, weresensitive and conscious creatures which felt pain and an-guish in much the manner of human beings.Public Actions ContemplatedThe Court is prepared to file lawsuits before ordinaryCourts against States which are guilty of serious andsystematic transgressions of the laws protecting animals.Meanwhile the complete and motivated Judgement is to besent to the Presidents of States, ministers, and commis-sioners, who were condemned. It will also be sent forinformation to the members of the European Parliament, tothe Pope, to the Patriarch of Constantinople, and to theHeads of other European churches.The Court solemnly rendered homage to Mrs JillPhipps, who had been mercilessly run over and killed by acattle lorry which she was attempting to stop.Mrs Judith Weber and Miss Vera Weber coordinatedthe event with smooth success. They deserve warm con-gratulations for so serving the cause of the animals andcivilized humanity.GUNAVANT M. OZA, PresidentThe Foundation for Environmental AwarenessOza Building, SalatwadaBaroda 390 001India,&NICHOLAS POLUNIN, PresidentThe Foundation for Environmental ConservationGeneva, Switzerland.UNESCO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BIO-SPHERE RESERVES, HELD IN SEVILLE, SPAIN, DURING20-25 MARCH 1995This was the Second International Conference on Bio-sphere Reserves, the First having been held in Minsk in1983. The first Biosphere Reserves were designated in1976, and by the time of the Minsk Conference, the numberhad grown to 243 reserves in 65 countries. Since then 98additional sites have been added, bringing the total to 324Biosphere Reserves in 82 countries.The Conference in Seville was a gala celebration ofBiosphere Reserves — an unrivalled opportunity for thosewho had worked with them all over the world to shareexperiences and, most important, a working meeting dedi-cated to setting Biosphere Reserves on course for the 21stCentury.The Conference was jointly organized by the followingSpanish authorities: Ministerio de Obras Publicas, Trans-ports y Medio Ambiente, Secretaria de Estado de MedioAmbiente y Vivienda, Junta de Andalucia, Consejeria deMedio Ambiente, ICONA, Ministerio de Agriculture,Pesca y Alimentation, the Spanish MAB Committee, andthe Spanish UNESCO National Commission. The openingceremony was presided over by HRH the Infanta DonaChristina and opening addresses were made by the Mayorof Seville, the Chairman of the International CoordinatingCommittee of MAB and of the Spanish MAB NationalCommittee, the Counsellor for the Environment of the Go-vernment of Andalucia, the State Secretary for Environ-ment and Housing (who was also elected President of theConference), the Minister of Public Works, Transport andEnvironment of Spain, the Minister of Agriculture, Live-stock, and Fisheries and Food of Spain, the Director-General of UNESCO, and the President of the Governmentof Andalucia. The range of interest is shown by the numberof participants — 387 persons from 102 countries and 15regional and international organizations. The introductoryspeeches were enthusiastic about the role and prospects ofBiosphere Reserves — especially those in the host country.The only note of caution was sounded by the Director-General of UNESCO in relation to the increase in worldpopulation and the prevalence of poverty.The Conference set itself two main tasks: to examinepast experience in implementing the concept of BiosphereReserves, and to look into the future to identify what em-phases should now be given to the three functions ofconservation, development, and logistical support. Thiswork was based on a review of the achievements of theAction Plan developed at Minsk, a large number of papersand posters about experiences throughout the world, and afew visionary papers.In relation to the first task, the Conference concludedthat, in spite of problems and limitations encountered inapplying the concept, the programme as a whole had beeninnovative and had had many successes. The reasons forthe limitations were complex, but two important onesappeared to be the lukewarm support of other internationalagencies (even IUCN) in a period when resources availableto most of them were declining in real terms; the other wasthat the composition of MAB National Committees and thesectoral nature of institutions did not readily lend itself toaction in the field of protected areas. The Conference Pre-sident presented the very encouraging Spanish experiencewith Biosphere Reserves.The most important part of the Conference was devotedto producing two documents which will be presented to thehttps:/www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892900010377Downloaded from https:/www.cambridge.org/core. University of Basel Library, on 11 Jul 2017 at 12:37:13, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at

International Court of Justice for Animal Rights, held at the International Conference Centre, Place Varembé, Geneva, Switzerland, on 6 March 1995

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