Earth`s Leading Advocates Meet in Oregon

"Annual meetings build the bonds that make the E-LAW network strong."
- Bern Johnson, E-LAW U.S. Executive Director

Advocates visit Seal Rock, Oregon

Sixty-three pioneers in public interest environmental law from 32 countries made their way to Yachats, Oregon, February 25-28, for the E-LAW 2001 Annual International Meeting. Through Working Groups and Project Circles, these E-LAW advocates helped each other advance efforts around the world to protect the environment through law.

Fernando Dougnac, a leader in defending Chile`s forests, has participated in the E-LAW network for many years. The opportunity for Fernando and other E-LAW veterans to collaborate face-to-face with new and upcoming environmental defenders from around the globe was invaluable.

E-LAW annual meetings are hosted by E-LAW U.S. in odd-numbered years and by E-LAW partners outside the U.S. in even-numbered years. The following are some highlights from 2001.

Working Groups & Project Circles

Public interest environmental lawyers often work in isolation, with limited resources and few colleagues to call on for support. Project Circles and Working Groups at annual meetings demonstrate the power of collaboration and replicate the daily exchange taking place in E-LAW`s electronic network.

L to R: Tundu Lissu, Tanzania; T. Mohan, India; Vincent Shauri, Tanzania; Agustin Bravo, Mexico

In Project Circles, advocates receive legal and scientific assistance from their colleagues on specific cases or law reform efforts to protect the environment in their home countries. For example, a public interest lawyer in Uganda working to protect fragile ecosystems asked her colleagues for land planning guidelines and policies to help her establish what are appropriate sites for industry, residential areas and protected areas. Advocates from Mexico, Peru, Australia, Argentina and the U.K. each offered the Ugandan advocate copies of the pertinent planning and land use laws from their respective countries.

Working Groups give advocates an opportunity to work proactively on environmental issues faced by advocates in many countries. For example, advocates in Belize, Brazil, Ecuador, Malaysia and Tanzania are all working to reduce the negative impacts of shrimp farming. Through a Working Group, advocates conduct research on the impacts of aquaculture and strategize on ways to protect communities and ecosystems.

Technical Training

Advocates need equipment and skills to access legal and scientific resources and collaborate with colleagues across borders. E-LAW U.S. provides computers, software and modems to environmental defenders around the world, and trains them to use this equipment.

At the Annual Meeting, intensive hands-on training was provided by E-LAW U.S. technical experts: Glenn Gillis, Information Technology Manager, based in the U.S. office; Shantha Fernando, South Asia Technology Circuit Rider, based in Sri Lanka; Miguel Peirano, Latin America Technology Circuit Rider, based in Uruguay; and Andriy Andrusevych, New Independent States Technology Circuit Rider, based in Ukraine.

Project circle at E-LAW`s 2001 Annual Meeting in Yachats, Oregon

2001 Project Circles

• Judicial Training
• Protected Areas
• Water Pollution
• Human Rights
• Environmental Impact Assessments
• Hazardous Waste
• Biodiversity & Habitat Protection
• Public Participation
• Access to Justice
• Mining
• Litigation Strategies
• Oil & Gas
• Forests
• Land Use Planning
• Standing
• Indigenous Rights

2001 Working Groups

• Genetic Resources & Intellectual Property Rights
• Multilateral Development Banks
• Shrimp Aquaculture
• Corporate Accountability
• Access to Justice
• Environmental Impact Assessments
• Human Rights Tools
• Indigenous Rights
• International Law Implementation & Enforcement