Hi Tweets,

Here's some good news from the Seabird list.

M


>**********************************************************************
>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> DECEMBER 16, 1997
>
>
> HISTORIC ANTARCTIC PROTECTION AGREEMENT BECOMES LAW
>
>
>WASHINGTON, December 16 -- The Antarctica Project and Greenpeace
>today celebrated the final ratification of the landmark
>Environmental Protection Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty. The
>Protocol bans mining in Antarctica for a minimum of 50 years and
>designates the whole continent and its dependent marine
>ecosystems a "natural reserve devoted to peace and science."Entry
>into force of the Protocol is necessary to safeguard Antarctica's
>status as a global wilderness area and scientific laboratory.
>
>"Antarctica is the world's last great wilderness, a continent of
>awe-inspiring beauty, and a vital international scientific
>laboratory," said Beth Clark, Director of the Washington,
>DC-based environmental group, The Antarctica Project. "By
>establishing high standards for all human activities in the
>region, the Environmental Protocol goes a long way towards
>safeguarding Antarctica before it suffers from the human impacts
>felt over most of the rest of the earth."
>
>"The Antarctic Protocol ratification is especially gratifying
>when viewed in contrast to the disappointing treaty on climate
>change hammered out last week in Kyoto," said Greenpeace's Gerry
>Leape. "It shows that countries of the world can, in fact, come
>together to achieve a meaningful environmental goal." For the
>last 13 years, Greenpeace has campaigned for Antarctica to be
>declared a World Park, conceived to be a legally enforceable,
>internationally accepted administrative system for the protection
>of the Antarctic wilderness. In 1987, Greenpeace constructed and
>maintained the first and only non-governmental base in Antarctica
>devoted to research and preservation of the environment.
>
>The 1959 Antarctic Treaty has kept Antarctica free of conflict,
>but human pressures on the continent's unique environment have
>been growing rapidly from increased numbers of scientific
>research stations and tourist ships. As well as banning all oil
>and mineral exploration and mining, the Protocol contains a
>series of crucial safeguards on environmental impact assessment
>of all activities, waste disposal, marine pollution, specially
>protected areas and the conservation of wildlife. A Committee on
>Environmental Protection will oversee its operation.
>
>Antarctica represents about ten percent of the earth's surface,
>and plays a central role in regulating the earth's weather
>patterns and ocean circulation systems. The surrounding seas
>support a wealth of penguins and other seabirds, fish, seals, and
>whales. The pristine nature of the region provides unique
>opportunities for scientific research that is crucial to the
>understanding and monitoring of global climate change, ozone
>depletion, and atmospheric pollution.
>
>Japan's ratification yesterday was the last agreement needed from
>all 26 Antarctic Treaty member nations for the Protocol to become
>law. It will formally enter into force in 30 days. Negotiated in
>1991, it has taken over six years for all the Treaty nations to
>ratify the Protocol. The last few nations to ratify were Finland,
>United States, Russia and finally Japan. Prior to Japan, the last
>nations to ratify were Finland, United States, and Russia.
>
>The 26 member nations of the Antarctic Treaty are: Argentina,
>Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, People's Republic of China,
>Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Republic
>of Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Russia,
>South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United
>States, and Uruguay.
>
>Note: Photos and video footage of Antarctica are available from
>Greenpeace.
>
>FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth Clark, The Antarctica Project
>(202) 544-0236 or antarctica at igc.org; or Gerry Leape, Greenpeace
>(202) 319-2401 or gerry.leape at wdc.greenpeace.org.
>_____________________________
>Beth Clark
>Director
>The Antarctica Project
>P.O. Box 76920
>Washington, DC 20013 USA
>ph: +1 202-544-0236
>fax: +1 202-544-8483
>e-mail: antarctica at igc.org
>


> John Cooper
>
> Coordinator
> BirdLife International Seabird Global Conservation Project
> c/o Avian Demography Unit
> Department of Statistical Sciences
> University of Cape Town
> Rondebosch 7700
> South Africa
>
> jcooper at botzoo.uct.ac.za
>
> Website: http://www.uct.ac.za/depts/stats/adu/seabirds
>
> Office Phone: +27-21-650-3308
> Office Fax: +27-21-650-3295
> Home Phone: +27-21-685-1357 (answering machine)
> Cell Phone: 083-750-3486
>
> "Help albatrosses avoid death by drowning:
> encourage responsible longline fishing"
>
>