GREAT WHITE SHARK WINS CITES APPENDIX II PROTECTION

Hey kids...
Here is an e-mail I received from the Shark Research Institute:

October 13, 2004 The great white shark has been placed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), a United Nations Treaty Organization convening October 2 to 14, in Bangkok, Thailand. The proposal was sponsored by Australia and Madagascar. During the debate, Ecuador, Thailand, United States, the European Union, and IUCN spoke in favor of the proposal, while Japan, Norway, Iceland, China, Guinea-Bissau, Qatar and the Caribbean nations of St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis voiced their strong opposition. Japan called for a secret ballot. Some 87 countries (parties) voted in favor of the listing, 34 opposed and nine countries abstained.
CITES convenes every two years. The 166 countries that are signatories to CITES have agreed to abide by and implement decisions taken by CITES. Shark Research Institute participates as an NGO (non- governmental organization) where, along with other organizations such as WWF, TRAFFIC and SSN, we meet with delegates to present scientific data in support or opposition of proposals under consideration by CITES.
Under CITES rules, an Appendix II listing allows trade if it does not threaten survival of the species, while an Appendix I listing prohibits all trade in the species. The Appendix II "zero quota" listing that Australia and Madagascar originally proposed, would in fact be similar to an Appendix I listing but a decision to withdraw the "zero quota" was made to improve the proposal's chance of success.
Australia and Madagascar's proposal stated that an Appendix II listing for the shark would ensure exploitation of this globally threatened species is regulated and monitored and that international trade is not detrimental to its survival. The position statement, issued by Dr. Leonard Compagno, Director of SRI and author of the United Nations FAO World Catalogue of Sharks provided strong scientific support for the proposal.
Great white sharks are targeted commercially and by recreational fishermen for their jaws and teeth. Their fins, like those of other sharks, are in demand for shark fin soup.
The great white is only the third shark species to be afforded Appendix II protection by CITES, joining the basking and whale sharks which were listed at CITES Convention Parties (CoP12) in Santiago, Chile.
At CoP13, Japan's proposal to commercially hunt minke whales has been harpooned; 57 countries voting in favor of the proposal, 67 against and 14 abstaining. The humphead wrasse (also known as the Napoleon wrasse or Maori wrasse), Cheilinus undulatus, gained Appendix II protection, and wild African elephants won more protection against ivory poachers following a six-hour debate.
I just received word that Japan will try to reopen discussion on minke whales and white sharks during the plenary session this afternoon or tomorrow morning in hopes of preventing ratification of the decisions.
Marie Levine, Executive Director,Shark Research Institute Bangkok, Thailand
Shark Research Institute
Marie Levine
Executive Director
email: cnickels@sharks.org
phone: 609-921-3522
cnickels@sharks.org

This is a major step in getting all countries to recognize the ocean's top predator as endangered thanks to human behavior, and maybe soon it will be illegal to hunt the Great White in all waters. That is expecting too much from such a stupid species as human beings, but at least some progress is being made.

In unrelated news, this link was e-mailed to me this morning.
http://wearabledissent.com/101/floridavote.html
This is how Florida is going to ensure that no mistakes are made in this year's presidential election.

That's all for now, keep checking here for news and info on the Turzman.
Shoot me an e-mail at mike@turzman.com and leave a message on my PhanFone hotline, 909-881-3654.

Don't take any shit from anybody,

m.