Second Announcement: A Change in Climate for Whales
Second Pew-Sponsored Whale Symposium

United Nations University,Tokyo,
30-31 January 2008

Pew Whale Symposium Secretariat
whales@pewtrusts.org
Tel: +34 637 557 357 -- +34 666 52 66 02

Since the first announcement on 29 October, 60 people have confirmed their participation in the second Pew-sponsored Whale Symposium “A change in Climate for Whales”, to be held at the United Nations University Headquarters in Tokyo on 30-31 January, 2008.

The Symposium agenda has been finalized, and most of the speakers have been confirmed. In keeping with the spirit of bringing new ideas to the table, with an open dialogue between participants, the Symposium will draw on the skills and experience of people who have been involved in other fora with equally if not more difficult and contentious issues. We hope that lessons can be learned and success stories applied to the whaling context.

In particular, we would draw your attention to the closing session, which will consist of an interactive round robin where speakers will be asked to take into account the wide variety of views expressed over the course of the two days, and to put forward innovative ideas and recommendations for the March intersessional meeting of the IWC on the future of the international whale conservation regime.

At the close of the Symposium, an initial draft of the Chairman’s Summary will be presented to the group. A mechanism will be found for participants to comment on it before it is forwarded to the IWC for its consideration.

The Pew-sponsored symposium will:

• Bring together a broadly representative group with multiple points of view;
• Include international policy experts with no direct experience in the whaling debate, to foster new ideas;
• Limit media activity before and during the symposium so as to create a constructive and non-pressured environment; and
• Use the Chatham House rule whereby no individual statements are attributed to their authors without permission.

The Pew Environment Group Whale Symposium Secretariat: whales@pewtrusts.org.

[This is the 2nd announcement: 11 December 2007]

Chairperson

Judge Tuiloma Neroni Slade, former Presiding Judge of the International Criminal Court; previously Ambassador of Samoa to the United Nations; Chairman of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and leader in the climate change negotiations; and former Co-Chairman of the United Nations Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (UNICPOLOS).

Secretariat

Rémi Parmentier, Senior Policy Consultant, Pew Environment Group.

Kelly Rigg, Director of the Varda Group.

Alex García Wylie, Associate of the Varda Group.

Monica Medina, Director of the Pew Whales Project.

Whales in the Media

Read the NY Symposium Bulletin

Click here for ENB online reporting of the Whale Symposium.