Hi all,
In an interview published in The Times yesterday, and on his blog, journalist Frank Pope has unearthed some information that creates serious questions about CITES lack of impartiality.
I have posted about this on the Wetpixel front page too.
In a nutshell, it would seem that Dr. Giam Choo Hoo, a veterinarian from Singapore, has used his position within the CITES animal committee to influence the decisions of the committee when they are discussing issues that effect his commercial interests (in this case the sale of shark fin).
This has been allowed to happen as there seems to be a complete lack of oversight of CITES committee members commercial interests even when those interests are in direct conflict with the conservation issues being discussed.
I have written to CITES requesting a formal statement about the issue, and will keep everyone posted. I think this is an issue that we should really make some noise about!
Adam
4 replies to this topic
#2
adamhanlon
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#3
Drew
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Posted 18 March 2012 - 02:14 PM
That Giam is smart. He won't incriminate himself or slip up.
Drew
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#4
gina
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Posted 18 March 2012 - 07:42 PM
There is a petition on change.org asking for the removal of Giam Choo Hoo from CITES:
http://www.change.or...-hoo-from-cites
-Gina
http://www.change.or...-hoo-from-cites
-Gina
#5
derway
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Posted 18 March 2012 - 08:51 PM
Done. Thanks Gina.
It is incredible to me, that these regulatory or advisory agencies have no conflict of interest requirements automatically.
With the hawaiian super ferry fiasco, that was going to cause further invasive species problems on all the islands, and likely kill humback whales, the super ferry guys just turned several members of the humback whale sanctuary advisory group, into HIGHLY paid consultants, who would go to every meeting and tell how great and harmless the super ferry was going to be!
It was sickening to watch. Fortunately, the superferry fractured the hull and rudder mounts, in real wide open oceans, and made everyone sick, who road on the first trials, and they were forced to give it up.
It is incredible to me, that these regulatory or advisory agencies have no conflict of interest requirements automatically.
With the hawaiian super ferry fiasco, that was going to cause further invasive species problems on all the islands, and likely kill humback whales, the super ferry guys just turned several members of the humback whale sanctuary advisory group, into HIGHLY paid consultants, who would go to every meeting and tell how great and harmless the super ferry was going to be!
It was sickening to watch. Fortunately, the superferry fractured the hull and rudder mounts, in real wide open oceans, and made everyone sick, who road on the first trials, and they were forced to give it up.
Don Erway
http://picasaweb.google.com/onederway/
http://www.pbase.com/derway
nikon n90s/ikelite housing/twin SS-200 canon G2/ikelite/DS-50/optical TTL slave
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http://picasaweb.google.com/onederway/
http://www.pbase.com/derway
nikon n90s/ikelite housing/twin SS-200 canon G2/ikelite/DS-50/optical TTL slave
sony V3/ikelite/DS-51/Heinrich DA2 slave
