[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

RATIFICATION OF THE ITTA (r)



Burma is a relatively new member of the International Tropical Timber
Organization (ITTO) since 1993.
environmental NGOs and others who attend ITTO, (there are few
environmentalists who still attend, becausemost considerate it to be a
highly ineffectual institution that has only perpetuated the status quo of
unsustainable and destructive logging, and has mainly served as a cover up
for its country members to seem like
they are doing something about this kind of forest destruction).

 Be that aside, it has always served
as an good place to protest forest destruction and with Burma as a member
it is a good venue for
protesting Burma's membership, as ITTO membership helps legitimize the
regime. When Burma first became a member, (pushed to do so by Danish timber
industry and perhaps Danish government, due to the Danes use of teak and
other valuable hardwoods), the US ITTO reps. did not like it, yet know one
openly protested the membership.

The ITTO meets twice yearly, once always at its headquarters in Yokohama,
Japan in November and in the
summer, usually June, in a producer nation. If anyone is interested in
protesting Burma's membership at this coming November ITTO in Yokohama,
please contact me. Legal protests have always been tolerated at ITTO and I
think that some delegates would actually welcome it. In addition, since the
Danes have taken
a strong anti-SLORC position in the last months, it may be possible to get
them to ask for Burma's removal from the ITTO. This has never happend in
ITTO history, but I see no reason not to try.

All the best,



Pamela Wellner