<incom> cute, isn't it ?

[Heimo Claasen]

(I'm not sure of my answer, -hc)
This was a press release from the CITES conference:

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#Date:       Fri, 01 Jun 2007 06:31:04 -0400
#From:       Adam Roberts <adam at bornfreeusa.org>
#To:         will at bornfree.org.uk, mandy at bornfree.org.uk, shelley at bornfree.org.uk
#Subject: Conservation NGOs to Provide Laptop Computers to Developing Countries

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1 June 2007

Conservation NGOs to Provide Laptop Computers to Developing Countries

THE HAGUE—On 12.00 on 3 June 2007 at the World Forum Convention Centre, Born
Free Foundation and the Species Survival Network, globally recognized wildlife
conservation leaders, will distribute fully-equipped laptop computers to
government delegates from 30 countries to ensure full participation in the
meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES).

“Some of the most imperiled wildlife species on the planet are native to the
poorest countries and we must do all we can to ensure that lack of resources
does not prevent these delegates from fully participating in the debate and
decisions that could effect the levels of protection afforded threatened and
endangered animals and plants. We are extremely grateful to our friends at the
Dell computer company in England for helping make this project a reality” said
Will Travers, CEO of Born Free USA and Chairman of the Species Survival
Network.

The delegates, from countries spread widely across Africa and Asia, will
receive new, multi-media laptop computers with wireless internet capability.
SSN’s dedicated IT team have personalized each machine in the language of the
recipient and downloaded all official documents necessary to participate
actively in the weighty CITES deliberations.

Travers added: “Our single goal is to prevent the disenfranchisement of
delegates from countries at the bottom of the United Nations Human Development
Index. In fact, some nations with policies directly opposed to our own will
receive these machines.  Born Free and SSN welcome informed, intelligent
debate, and with this modest donation of computer equipment, we advance that
important dialogue.”

Over the next 2 weeks (June 3rd - 15th) CITES Parties will consider proposals
affecting the global protection of African elephants, Asian big cats, great
whales, North American bobcats, leopards, rhinos, sharks, coral, slow lorises,
and a variety of plant and tree species.

Delegates from the following countries are slated to receive the computers:
Niger, Sierra Leone, Mali, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad,
Ethiopia, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Zambia, Ivory Coast,
Benin, Guinea, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Mauritania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Yemen,
Djibouti, Togo, Cameroon, Madagascar, Republic of Congo, Ghana, Bhutan, Lao
PDR, and Cambodia.

“We sincerely hope that we will be able to continue building capacity in
developing countries for years to come and that other organizations,
governments, and Treaty support bodies, will follow suit,” Travers concluded.

For further information contact:   Adam M. Roberts, Born Free
USA / SSN
In The Hague: 06-5213 6798   Globally: 1-202-445-3572

WORLD FORUM CONVENTION CENTRE
10, Churchillplein
NL-2508 THE HAGUE

www.bornfree.org.uk
www.ssn.org

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