[ECSNet] EU plays down expectations for Rio Earth Summit

EU plays down expectations for Rio Earth Summit

http://www.civilsocietyvoice.org/2012/04/eu-plays-down-expectations-for-rio.html

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Discussion e-groups about Climate Change and Sustainable Development

Climate Concern Group:

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Tropical Biodiversity:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sustainabilitymatters/

Sustainability Matters

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sustainabilitymatters/

Ecotourism Forum

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Greentour/

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Discussion e-group about Climate Change and Global Warming

Discussion e-group about Climate Change and Global Warming:

Climate Concern Group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ClimateConcern/

 

Ethical Jobs Listing - 27th April 2012

Change.org - Nonprofit Campaign Strategist

Location: Washington, DC, USA
Salary/benefits: to be advised
Application closing date: 31st May 2012

The British Red Cross - Middle East and North Africa Programme Manager

Location: London, UK
Salary/benefits: circa £35,000 p.a.
Application closing date: 13th May 2012

The British Red Cross - South Asia Programme Manager

Location: London, UK
Salary/benefits: circa £35,000 p.a.
Application closing date: 13th May 2012

Saferworld - Project Officer, China Programme

Location: London, UK
Salary/benefits: £20,475 - £25,937 gross per annum
Application closing date: 10th May 2012

Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice - Administration and Communications Assistant

Location: Dublin, Co. Dublin, Ireland
Salary/benefits: To be confirmed
Application closing date: 4th May 2012

OneWorld UK - Project Coordinator, Learning about Living Project, Egypt

Location: Egypt
Salary/benefits: TBC but attractive and commensurate with position
Application closing date: 30th April 2012

Climate Parliament - Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa

Location: Midrand, South Africa
Salary/benefits: €58,000 p.a., plus substanial benefits
Application closing date: 27th April 2012

ActionAid International - Project Manager, Mothers, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (Afghanistan)

Location: London, UK
Salary/benefits: £34,032 per annum
Application closing date: 7th May 2012

ActionAid International - Project Manager, Mothers, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (Afghanistan)

Location: Africa
Salary/benefits: GBP 40,289 per annum
Application closing date: 4th May 2012

Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition - Project Manager, Mothers, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (Afghanistan)

Location: Kabul, Afghanistan
Salary/benefits: Competitive
Application closing date: 30th April 2012

Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition - Country Manager, Kenya, Afghanistan

Location: Kabul, Afghanistan
Salary/benefits: to be confirmed
Application closing date: 30th April 2012

Medical Aid for Palestinians - Director of Programmes occupied Palestinian territory

Location: West Bank
Salary/benefits: $50,000 per annum plus allowances
Application closing date: 4th May 2012

International Alert - Country Manager - DRC

Location: Kinshasa, DRC
Salary/benefits: £41,945 per annum for local staff / £38,945 per annum for expatriate staff with benefits
Application closing date: 9th May 2012

Change.org - Director of Communications, France

Location: Paris, France
Salary/benefits: To Be Advised
Application closing date: May 31st 2012

Change.org - Campaigns Director, South Korea

Location: Seoul, South Korea
Salary/benefits: To Be Advised
Application closing date: May 31st 2012

Amnesty International - International Secretariat - Researcher - Indonesia

Location: London, UK
Salary/benefits: £41,124 per annum
Application closing date: May 3rd, 2012

The Institute for Policy Studies - Development Coordinator

Location: Washington DC
Salary/benefits: Commensurate with experience
Application closing date: June 30th, 2012

International Alert - Senior Programme Design and Fundraising Officer – Eurasia Programme

Location: London, UK
Salary/benefits: £35,372 per annum
Application closing date: May 2nd, 2012

Change.org - Campaigns Director, Argentina

Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Salary/benefits: To be Advised
Application closing date: April 30th, 2012

People and Planet - People & Planet Internships x6

Location: Oxford, UK
Salary/benefits: £14,195.79
Application closing date: April 30th, 2012

Amnesty International - Campaign Networks & Projects Coordinator

Location: London, UK
Salary/benefits: £34,032 per annum
Application closing date: April 29th, 2012

One Acre Fund - Program Associate

Location: Bungoma, Kenya
Salary/benefits: Starts modest
Application closing date: Jan 1st, 2013

Women for Afghan Women - Human Resources Manager - Haiti Human Resources Manager Haiti

Location: Queens, NY, USA
Salary/benefits: 60000 USD
Application closing date: May 1st, 2012

Latest Voluntary and Intern Positions

Voluntary and intern positions are always free to post.

Volunteers for Mental Health - Volunteer - Mental Health Practitioner, in Romania

Location: Târnăveni, Romania
Salary/benefits: Accom, insurance & flights
Application closing date: 22nd May 2012

Conciliation Resources - West Africa Programme Volunteer

Location: London, UK
Salary/benefits: Travel (within London zones 1-6) and lunch
Application closing date: 30th April 2012

DARA - Internship Opportunity Fundraising

Location: Madrid, Spain
Salary/benefits: Monthly Transportation •Food Allowance, EUR 136
Application closing date: 30th April 2012

LivLife - Trustee

Location: Various
Salary/benefits: n/a
Application closing date: June 12th, 2012

Freightliners City Farm - City Farm Treasurer

Location: London, UK
Salary/benefits: n/a
Application closing date: Sept 28th, 2012

6 x Internships with Frontier in London, UK - Various Posts

Location: London, UK
Salary/benefits: Travel allowance available
Application closing date: Jul 31st, 2012

The Otesha Project UK - Sustainability Cycle Tour Liaison Internship

Location: London, UK
Salary/benefits: £200 bursary + food and accommodation included
Application closing date: June 30th, 2012

The Otesha Project UK - Sustainability Cycle Tour Member

Location: London, UK
Salary/benefits: food and accommodation included
Application closing date: June 30th, 2012

Indigenous Education Foundation of Tanzania (IEFT) - Teach Chemistry in Tanzania

Location: Tanzania
Salary/benefits: n/a
Application closing date: June 1st, 2012

Campaigners claim World Bank helps facilitate land grabs in Africa

Food shortages and rural deprivation exacerbated by World Bank policy,
says NGO ahead of land and poverty conference
The World Bank is helping corporations and international investors
snap up cheap land in Africa and developing countries worldwide at the
expense of local communities, environment and farm groups said in a
statement released on Monday to coincide with the bank's annual land
and poverty conference in Washington DC.
According to the groups, which include NGO Friends of the Earth
International (FOEI) and international peasants' group La Via
Campesina, decades of World Bank policies have pushed African and
other governments to privatise land and focus on industrial farming.
In addition, they say, the bank is playing a "key role" in the global
rush for farmland by providing capital and guarantees to big
multinational investors
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2012/apr/23/world-bank-land-grabs-africa?newsfeed=true

---------------

UN institutions launch global media campaign on environment protection

UN institutions launch global media campaign on environment protection
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90883/7794899.html

[ANFES] Water and sanitation pledges could deliver for over 85 million across Africa

Water and sanitation pledges could deliver for over 85 million across
Africa
More at:
http://www.anfes.net/

Discussion e-groups about Climate Change and Sustainable Development

Discussion e-groups about Climate Change and Sustainable Development

Climate Concern Group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ClimateConcern/

Tropical Biodiversity:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sustainabilitymatters/

Sustainability Matters

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sustainabilitymatters/

Ecotourism Forum

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Greentour/

-------------------------------

Climate Change Adaptations in Africa

Africa Carbon Forum

Ø http://www.iisd.ca/africa/carbon/acf/acf4/

Climate Change and Food Security in Africa

Ø http://www.ccdare.org/Portals/131/PDF/sustainability%20report-03-01510-v2.pdf

Lessons for Climate Change Adaptation

Ø http://www.ccdare.org/Portals/131/PDF/CC%20DARE%20Lessons%20fo%20Adaptation.pdf

Shifting Course: Adaptation for Water Management Institutions

Ø http://www.adaptiveinstitutions.org/

UN-REDD Programme newsletter

Ø http://www.un-redd.org/Newsletter27/tabid/101737/Default.aspx

Readying Africa for REDD+

Ø http://boell.org.za/downloads/Readying_Africa_for_REDD.pdf

The Status of Food Security in Africa

Ø http://www.uneca.org/csd/csd6/StatusFoodSecurity-inAfrica.pdf

Climate-smart agriculture for food security in Africa

Ø http://www.alin.net/Joto%20Afrika

Strengthening the institutional engagement of the Climate Change Adaptation in Africa programme in East Africa

Ø http://web.idrc.ca/uploads/user-S/12472192231Institutional_Mapping_for_Climate_Change_Adaptation_in_Eastern_Africa.pdf

Adaptation of water resource management to climate change in Africa

Ø http://www.parliament.uk/documents/post/postpn_373-Water-Adapatation-in-Africa.pdf

Analysing the economic cost of climate change in Africa

Ø http://www.christianaid.org.uk/images/economic-cost-of-climate-change-in-africa.pdf

The Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) training module

Ø http://www.gcca.eu/pages/63_2-Africa-Workshops.html

____________________________________________________





Compiled by:

Ernest Rukangira
Conserve Africa Foundation

Web:http://www.conserveafrica.org.uk/

Water and Sanitation in Africa

Water and Sanitation Programme: Working Paper

http://www.wsp.org/wsp/sites/wsp.org/files/publications/WSP_IntroducingFOAM_HWWS.pdf

Groundwater Security in Yemen: The Critical Role of Local Communities

http://www.thewaterchannel.tv/en/videos/video-features/73-test

The UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication (UNW-DPAC): Biennial Report of activities for 2010-2011

http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/pdf/unwdpac_biennial_report_2010_2011.pdf

United Nations Bimonthly Publications Review on water and sanitation

http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/pdf/UNW-DPAC_Bimonthly_Publications_Review_Issue_08_January_2012_eng.pdf

http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/unpublications.shtml

Mobile Water Payment Innovations in Urban Africa

http://oxwater.co.uk/#/mobile-water-payments/4559323117

Impact evaluation of drinking water supply and sanitation programmes in rural Benin: The risk of vanishing effects, 2011.

http://www.susana.org/docs_ccbk/susana_download/2-1479-hippogalleryasset.pdf

Regional Approaches to Food and Water Security in the Face of Climate Challenges

http://www.gwp.org/Global/About%20GWP/Publications/PROCEEDINGS_Regional%20approaches%20to%20food%20and%20water%20security_final.pdf

http://media.coauthors.net/konferencia/conferences/5/Vigh_Mozambique%20WASH%20impact_1015.pdf

Ghana’s national water supply integrity study : mapping transparency, accountability & participation in service delivery : an analysis of the water supply sector in Ghana. Accra, Ghana, Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII).

http://www.tighana.org/giipages/publication/TISDA%20LAUNCH%20REPORT%202011.pdf

Environmental assessment of Ogoniland. Nairobi: United Nations Environment Programme.

http://postconflict.unep.ch/publications/OEA/UNEP_OEA.pdf

Nigeria: The true 'tragedy': Delays and failures in tackling oil spills in the Niger Delta

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AFR44/018/2011/en/ee69139f-5e19-4760-af62-b3cf0b0a8595/afr440182011en.pdf

Kenya: translating research into national-scale change: a WASH in schools case study

http://sanitationupdates.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/kenya-washinschools.pdf

Mozambique – Effectiveness of Large Scale Water and Sanitation Interventions

http://media.coauthors.net/konferencia/conferences/5/Vigh_Mozambique%20WASH%20impact_1015.pdf

Assessing the impact of a school-based water treatment, hygiene and sanitation programme on pupil absence in Nyanza Province, Kenya : a cluster-randomized trial.

http://www.swashplus.org/Documents/Assessing%20the%20Impact%20of%20School%20WASH%20on%20Pupil%20Absence%20-%202011.pdf

Impact evaluation of drinking water supply and sanitation programmes in rural Benin: The risk of vanishing effects, 2011.

http://www.susana.org/docs_ccbk/susana_download/2-1479-hippogalleryasset.pdf

Humanitarian crises and sustainable sanitation: lessons from Eastern Chad

http://www.urd.org/Humanitarian-crises-and

Malawi: school menstrual hygiene management – more than toilets

http://shareresearch.org/LocalResources/MenstrualHygieneManagement_Malawi.pdf

Zimbabwe, Chitungwiza: factors leading to poor water sanitation hygiene among primary school going children

http://www.publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/12

Uganda, Kampala: marketing human excreta – a study of possible ways to dispose of urine and faeces

http://www.susana.org/docs_ccbk/susana_download/2-752-schroedergtzmarketinghumanexcretareportfinal.pdf

 Special Issue about the 6th World Water Forum

 http://www.iwra.org/doc/iwraupdatemarch2012.pdf

 GWP Wants Action on Water at Rio+20

http://www.gwp.org/Global/About%20GWP/Publications/Policy%20Briefs/GWP-Rio20%20Policy%20Brief_final.pdf

Inadequate Sanitation Costs 18 African Countries Around US$5.5 Billion Each Year

http://www.wsp.org/wsp/content/africa-economic-impacts-sanitation

--------------------------

Compiled by:

Ernest Rukangira

Conserve Africa Foundation

Web: http://www.conserveafrica.org.uk/

World Justice Forum III

June 20 -23, 2011, Spain

Environment, Public Health, and the Rule of Law

Highlights of working group and panel discussions

By Ernest Rukangira (Rapporteur)

1. Introduction:

The World Justice Forum is the largest international event hosted by the World Justice Project (http://www.worldjusticeproject.org/). It is a global gathering at which prominent leaders from all parts of the world and a variety of disciplines come together to articulate how the Rule of Law affects their disciplines and regions and to develop collaborative actions to strengthen the Rule of Law. The World Justice Forum III took place on June 20 -23, 2011 in Barcelona, Spain.

This third worldwide gathering was attended by participants from more than 100 countries and a multitude of disciplines –including architecture, the arts, business, education, environment, government, faith, human rights, international development, labor, media, military, public health, public safety, science.

This report highlights the discussions from breakout sessions about the Environment, Public health and the Rule of Law.

For more information about the World Justice Forum, please visit http://www.wjp-forum.org/2011/

2. The importance of the rule of law in relation to environment and public health

• Systematic approach taking into account social, economic and political considerations. environmental, economic and social justice intersect when the goal is for the people to have a right to a healthy environment and equal access to natural resources.
• Use principle 10 of Rio Declaration in relation to the rule of law
• Connecting the environment to the rule of law through interdisciplinary approach used by the WJP
• Strengthening the role of the judiciary in enforcement of the rule of law is key. Many  countries have good laws but lack institutions for compliance & enforcement.
• Provision of information including mechanisms of using the information by decision-makers
• New policies and laws and regulatory techniques could allow communities to participate actively and lead to transparent and accountable decisions.
• Environmental justice can only be ensured through the meaningful involvement of communities in the development of laws, projects and policies concerning natural resources.
• In order to strengthen environmental justice, not only is there a need to have a liberal judiciary, strong civil society, strong environmental legalisation and explicit  constitutional provisions, there should also be public access to decision-making and information.
• Proper use and enforcement of international environmental legal instruments.

3. Factors that may hinder effective environmental justice and law:

•   Lack of public awareness about their environmental rights
•   Absence of constitutionally protected and legally enforceable environmental rights.
•   Lack of information for the public about the progress and practicability of global environmental treaties;
•   Lack of interest and training in environmental law by lawyers and advocates as well as the judges themselves
•  Lack of opportunities for exchange of information, expertise and experience to enhance environmental compliance and enforcement.
•  Lack of a concerted and sustained efforts of work focused on education, training and dissemination of information the field of environmental law
• Weak environment protection laws which may allow international companies to avoid regulation and import contaminated waste from abroad
• Lack of trained cadre of lawyers on salient aspects of environmental law
•  Failure of governments to enforce the laws and therefore avoid the harms the law was designed to protect against
• Inadequacies in the tools and procedures for implementing environmental justice, and inequalities in access to these tools and procedures.
•  Corruption is a crosscutting malaise that, for many reasons, affects the rule of law in all fields and activities.

4. How can we support the WJP to advance its objectives?

• Public education and enforcement of laws though the involvement of civil society
• Massive IEC to increase the understanding of both the dangers arising from global trends relating to the environment, and the importance of addressing these dangers in a manner sensitive to the claims of environmental justice
• Guarantee of the rule of law where the judiciary is weak
•  Rule of law index should cover environmental issues , especially regarding natural resource management and environmental protection
•  Participation in the decision-making process creates a sense of ‘ownership’ in the decision itself, and various participatory techniques assist communities to implement environmental justice
• Have environmental index under the rule of law in relation to multilateral agreements.
• In natural resources management, fair and transparent process may not always lead to a sustainable outcome and does not ensure that communities have an equal share to their natural resources. A better procedure allows communities to have an understanding of the issues involved and a say
• Raising awareness about the rule of law in relation to the environment ( role of civil society organisations)
• Strategic tools such as environmental impact assessment , environmental strategic evaluation and land use planning, in relation to the WJP index. The analysis of these procedures could help measuring the level of compliance with all the tools provided by environmental law
• Environmental pollution/environmental health. Laws should correlate to public health. Law makers should correlate to the environmental and public health
• Improve public’s understanding of international conventions
•  Strengthening the capacity of governments and contributions to clarify and improveexisting laws and policies (e.g. through re-examining the content of existing laws)
• Ensure the tribunals have legal force and capacity
• Capacity building, education and communication support for local communities

     · Using and strengthening the precautionary principle

      · Information, education, communication and empowerment, civic engagement and
       public participation

      · Promoting access to justice

5. Role of civil society organisations

• Support the community and individual’s claims/rights to safe and healthy environment
•  Advocacy for compensation to damages caused by environmental risks
•  Difficulties to implement environmental law in non-open society. Civil society to be strengthened to demand democratisation and accountability.
•  Enable access to information by the communities to ensure community empowerment to enable communities understand that there is a violation of rights, are aware of the available legal remedies and can identify the responsible ) agency
• Environmental legislation should be consistent with the whole legal system to be more enforceable.
•  Role of watchdog for law enforcement, monitoring compliance and enforcement of international environmental law
• To challenge the refusal of access to information; to seek prevention of and damages for compensation for environmental harmful activities; and to enforce environmental laws
•  Ensure the rights of individuals and indigenous people are taken into account in environmental impact assessments, environmental legislation, policy-making and planning
• Access and use public information for the benefit of communities, comment and make suggestions to environmental law and governance.

6. Panel Discussion on the environment and public health

• Some countries have their constitution that stipulates the rights to environment (e.g. Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Ecuador and others in South America)
• New policies and national actions plans that involved several ministries were designed. The new policies include national policy on climate change, water management and natural resources. Enforcement and implementation followed quickly
•  Environmental issues are dealt with at the top level of governance
•  Other activities include monitoring and control such as satellite monitoring of deforestation, enforcement. As a result, deforestation was reduced by more than 70%
•  Public awareness is essential ( e.g. Indonesia)
•  Institutional and legislation reform was organised and affected all sectors
•  Some countries have the tradition of rule of law ( e.g. USA, EU, etc)
• Public right to access the information and to participate to hold public authorities and business accountable for implementation. While environmental law may provide participatory tools, in many cases the affected groups are not aware of these rights and may not have technical expertise to understand the impact of decisions. Civil society organisations may work to raise awareness and to influence the government to ensure communities rights are respected and taken into account in development planning and environmental impact assessment processes
• Existence of mechanism to hold decision-makers accountable
• Need to design environmental laws that are clear and enforceable, simple and implementable and to establish the mechanisms to encourage and support public access to administrative and judicial procedures, and environmental information
• The role of politics and power in the rule of law in relation to the environment
•  Rule of law cannot remove the disparities in health
•  Lack of democratisation in the law is contributing to health disparities
• Increase public awareness, advocacy and engagement
• Enforcement, harmonisation, coordination, monitoring and verification mechanisms of rule of law pertaining to the environment and public health
• Establish credible and accessible sources of information
•  Involvement of civil society in all stages of environmental law process, design and implementation. This is to create opportunities to challenge government decisions
• Business leaders should be held accountable
• Create a space where civil society organisations/government/business work  together. Strong civil society has a major role to play in applying the principles of  accountability, transparency and participation in implementing environmental rights
• To ensure the law is effectively used to the environment, civil society action is  essential in creating awareness at the grassroots level about environmental laws, constitutional rights and obligations to protect the environment. Without the pressure from civil society, the authorities may not do anything to implement the rule of law in relation to the environment
• Regulatory agencies and local governments need to play a proactive role to ensure the involvement of communities groups through consultations, regular meetings or briefing sessions.
•  Environmental degradation is a serious threat to human rights. Right to development as the right to a process that ensures the capabilities, basic needs and freedom of individuals to improve their well-being.

7. Project Design Session:

The following are project ideas that were discussed:

•  Capacity building including raising awareness, information, education and training of  lawyers and civil society organisations in environmental law
• Medical, and lawyers and environmentalist working together in the rule of law, public health and the environment (Medical/Legal Partnership)
• Access to and better utilisation of information and technologies by disadvantaged groups in decision-making affecting environmental and health issues
• Legal aspects of connections between climate change and health issues
• Handbook for judges about environmental international law including case studies
• Develop a guide to empower people to use the rule of law of environment and public health
•  Establishment of Green Tribunals to deal with claims and compensations in relation environmental damages
• Natural resources and benefit sharing: dissemination of cases of good practices can help conflicts prevention and sustainable businesses
• Using telephone mobile technology at the community level to raise awareness and report about environmental damages
• Environmental justice and consumer rights
•  Partnership between scientist, environmentalists, medical professionals and lawyers
•  Strengthening existing initiatives of database on environmental diseases and national water information systems
•  Develop specific environmental parameters to be included in the WJP index

8. Project Proposals selected: 

1. Building cooperation between medical and law students for awareness of the rule of law on public health and the environment
2. Guide for the practical application of the rule of law in environment and public heath
3. Access to information and new technologies to enhance the rule of Law: Riachuelo-Argentina
4. Access to environmental justice through “Lead in Paint” (case study in Sri Lanka)
5. Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) to improve delivery of public health services
6. Community benefit-sharing in natural resources management-advancing justice and the rule of law through case and best practices

9. Conclusions and Recommendations:

Environmental law and justice calls for the fight against environmental inequalities wherever they exist. The rule of law in relation to environment and public health aims to secure access to environmental and social justice for all; ensure communities are empowered to improve their quality of life; and provide for the protection of citizens’right to a healthy environment now and in the future.

The formulation and implementation of sound governance policies and laws have a critical role to play in the regulation of sustainable development. Laws and policies must be developed and implemented with the active participation of those who will be most directly affected, especially the rural poor, the marginalized and indigenous people most directly dependent on natural resources.

The people most affected by environmental degradation are the poor, and therefore, there is an urgent need to strengthen the capacity of the poor and their representatives to defend environmental rights, so as to ensure that the weaker sections of society are not prejudiced by environmental degradation; and are enable to enjoy their right to live in a social and physical environment that respects and promotes their dignity.

Everyone has a right to a healthy environment. People affected by or who may be affected by environmental problems should be able to access information about what is happening in their area, have compensation for environmental damage and for the exploitation of their natural resources, and have a say in the management of those resources.

Recommendations:

·Improve the competence of stakeholders (lawyers, scientists, medical professionals, civil

society, the media, decision-makers) to design and apply environmental law and justice.

· Design programmes for improvement in compliance with and enforcement and development of national and international environmental law.

· Increase public awareness of the role of the judiciary in environmental matters.

· Ensure right-holders’ interests relating to the environment and public health outcomes and standards are enshrined in international and national legislation

· Create partnership initiatives between a variety of disciplines including the sciences, business,

government, law, health, engineering and civil society to help protect the health and

environmental rights.

· Promote the role of the rule of law and governance in promoting environmental justice and rights

for sustainable development, and equitable management of and access to natural resources.

·  Access to justice, participation in environmental decision-making and access to environmental information are the key pillars of environmental rights.

· Strengthening civil society‘s ability to negotiate effectively with representative bodies, to hold the authorities accountable and to help communities speak out by giving them the legal and scientific support they need to challenge environmental abuses.

-----------------

Ernest Rukangira

Conserve Africa Foundation

1st Floor, 36 The Market Square

London N9 0TZ

Tel/Fax: +44(0)2888 79 414

Web: http://www.conserveafrica.org.uk/