- Email: [email protected]
California takes action
them", the report says. "Yet still in most parts of the world, policies and programmes related to alcohol consumption reflect conflicting interest and values." There is the need for all countries "to restrict the availability of alcohol in the interest of the health and welfare of their populations", is the report's conclusion.
Highlights Thus far some 50 countries have responded to a WHO questionnaire that seeks to determine national alcohol policies and programmes. Among highlights of responses: African nations: the nine countries responding all recognize the dangers to health of excessive drinking, but none have defined national policies, nor are they in possession of data on which to base programmes. Islamic nations: alcohol is banned in Iran, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the Yemen Arab Republic for both citizens and visitors alike. It is prohibited also in Bahrain and Pakistan, but permitted for
visitors. However, laws are not enforced in Bahrain and thus problems are increasing. Not prohibited in Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq and Sudan. In some nations, there has been a "tightening-up of regulations and imposition of heavy punishment for infractions", WHO says. "Elsewhere there has been a general relaxation of laws and customs." Latin nations: France, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and the Latin American nations account for "some of the highest levels of per capita alcohol consumption" in the world. Although governments are showing concern, in most instances, programmes against alcohol are still in the preparatory phase. North American nations: alcoholrelated problems are among the most serious public health concerns of both Canada and the United States. South-East Asian nations: Article 47 of India's constitution commits the country to a policy of prohibition. Enforcement, however, is left to individual state governments. Despite a set of guidelines drawn up for them by the central government in 1955, prohibition "has met
California Takes Action Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. (Governor of the State of California) has charged Secretary of the Interior James Watt with "promiscous treatment of the public trust" by offering up California's entire coastline for gas and oil exploration. California, Alaska and the Natural Resources Defense Council have filed suit with the United States Court of Appeals in Washington DC, to stop Watt's five-year Outer Continental Shelf(OCS) lease-sale programme. In a press conference in San Francisco, Governor Brown stated, "Secretary Watt is engaged in promiscuous treatment of the public trust. His fiveyear OCS plan disregards the legiti*Courtesy Office of the Governor, Sacramento, California, USA.
270
mate interests of the State of California and local governments and jeopardizes marine and coastal resources. He is an ideological zealot auctioning off the public trust before he is thrown out of office. He is a liability to the President... and should be put on a short leash." Watt's OCS programme involves one billion (US) acres offshore, ineluding 59 million acres off the coast of California. The suit contends that the plan violates the OCS Lands Act by failing to consider the concerns of state and local governments wanting to protect high risk, low potential tracts for exploration. Brown noted that by offering huge areas for sale rather than selecting potentially high yield tracts, Watt has invited court action which will result
with opposition, especially where modernization and westernization have tended to confer high status on alcohol consumption". In Sri Lanka and Thailand "the custom of abstinence is now declining except on days of religious functions". Other nations: in nationwide campaigns, Bulgaria and Hungary stress "measures to reduce demand for alcohol beverages rather than on those reducing availability". So do Norway and Sweden. Denmark regulates alcohol consumption through a high government tax in combination with health education. Where alcohol production is not a major industry, there is "less opposition to enactment and enforcement of control measures than in the big producing countries". The United Kingdom, for example, in its response, says: "A crucial issue ... is how far governments can, and should seek to, intervene in what is seen by many people as a matter of individual choice and responsibility." The statement is applicable also to such countries as Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
in delays in the leasing process. The governor said the plan should be revised to strike a balance between environmental concerns and the need to expand oil and gas reserves. Brown said the state "will cooperate and work on proper offshore activity, but not the kind that violates the public trust". Editorial Note: The above refers to the plan by the Department of the Interior to open up for oil exploration 1000 million acres of the outer continental shelf. It is a plan which aims to make the United States self-sufficient in fuel. To prevent the plan coming into effect in its existing form needs the signature of the President to block it, or for actions such as the above to slow it down, thus allowing some more time for further discussions and consideration. That is if Mr Watt will allow this extra time to materialize, for he appears to give the The Environmentalist
American people only two alternatives, which are recorded in his open letter attacking his critics. It states: "America must be prepared... It is much easier to explain to the American people why we have oil rigs off our coasts than to explain to mothers and fathers why their sons are fighting on the sands of the Middle East."
In Brief
Governor Brown's action shows that the American people do not believe that they only have a choice of two alternatives, environmental degradation or war. Such sayings of Secretary Watt, not only show a state of bankruptcy of ideas, but also a total disregard of the well being of this present as well as future generations.
Sandoz
Institute
The World Health theme for 1982 is 'Add life to years'.
The Sandoz Institute, Geneva, Switzerland has published a study under the title 'Aging 2000: A challenge for Society'. The Publication coincided with the UN Assembly on Aging held in Vienna, Austria.
Aging Population
F o o d Losses
In the late 1970s only the two German Republics, Sweden, United Kingdom and Austria, had 20 per cent of their population over the age of 60. By the year 2025, it is predicated that these 5 nations will be joined by many others, the number reaching towards nearly 40.
Italy has pledged to the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) 30 billion lire ($22 million) for the FAO Special Action Programme for the prevention of food losses. This contribution will be used to finance and implement some 26 projects in several developing countries in Africa, Asia, the Near East and Latin America. It is estimated that around 2 million people will benefit directly from the contribution.
WHO
Urban Population Projected urban population trends for the year 2000 show that Asia will have 13 out of 30 urban agglomerations with more than 10 million people. The figures below were issued by UNIS Nagkok. City
Population in millions
Tokyo Shanghai Beijing Bombay Calcutta Jakarta Seoul Madras Manila Bangkok Karachi New Delhi Tehran
24 22 19 17 16 16 14 13
On the morning of 7 June 1982, Dr Russell Peterson, President of the National Audubon Society, held a meeting of the Audubon staff and announced that the Board of Trustees had decided that the Society will move its corporate offices to the Washington DC area. One of the main reasons for this decision is based on the desire of the Society to expand its efforts in the 'activist' realm specifically with increased emphasis on Congress.
12
Unesco
12 12 11 11
During the period 6-11 September 1982, Unesco organized an international programme of experts on 'Progress and Trends in Environmental Education since the Tbilisi Conference'. The meeting discussed issues related to development of environmental education. A full report of this meeting will appear in Vol. 2, No. 4.
International Years 1985, will be 'International Youth Year'. Vol. 2, No. 3 (1982)
On the Move
In The Environmentalist (2, (2) (1982), p. 165) we printed a message from the President of the United States to IUCN supporting international conservation efforts. Today the national conservation efforts of the United States need support, and the American people are looking to the President to provide that support.
Urban Education The Education Department of the Massachusetts Audubon Society has been working closely with local school systems in providing more urban environmental education. A more detailed report will be published in a future issue of the journal.
Water D e c a d e
'Precious Water' is a new Unesco publication, this has been produced as part of the Agency's programme on the UN Water Decade.
Whaling The technical committee of the International Whaling Commission voted by 19 votes to 6 to phase out commercial whaling in the next two years. On the 24 July, the International Whaling Commission passed a complete ban on commercial whaling, this ban coming into effect in 1986, that is three years from now. Any new quotas would now need a three quarters majority of the 39 members for them to be re-introduced. This is a decision that has long been awaited by the conservation movement. However let us hope that countries wilt not discard the decision or leave the Commission.
Law o f the Sea The United States, Israel, Venezuela and Turkey voted against adoption of the convention. Many other countries abstained including the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, West Germany, Italy. France and Japan voted for the adoption. This is a very sad state of affairs for the convention had a far more comprehensive coverage than just deep sea mining. 271
Highlights Thus far some 50 countries have responded to a WHO questionnaire that seeks to determine national alcohol policies and programmes. Among highlights of responses: African nations: the nine countries responding all recognize the dangers to health of excessive drinking, but none have defined national policies, nor are they in possession of data on which to base programmes. Islamic nations: alcohol is banned in Iran, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the Yemen Arab Republic for both citizens and visitors alike. It is prohibited also in Bahrain and Pakistan, but permitted for
visitors. However, laws are not enforced in Bahrain and thus problems are increasing. Not prohibited in Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq and Sudan. In some nations, there has been a "tightening-up of regulations and imposition of heavy punishment for infractions", WHO says. "Elsewhere there has been a general relaxation of laws and customs." Latin nations: France, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and the Latin American nations account for "some of the highest levels of per capita alcohol consumption" in the world. Although governments are showing concern, in most instances, programmes against alcohol are still in the preparatory phase. North American nations: alcoholrelated problems are among the most serious public health concerns of both Canada and the United States. South-East Asian nations: Article 47 of India's constitution commits the country to a policy of prohibition. Enforcement, however, is left to individual state governments. Despite a set of guidelines drawn up for them by the central government in 1955, prohibition "has met
California Takes Action Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. (Governor of the State of California) has charged Secretary of the Interior James Watt with "promiscous treatment of the public trust" by offering up California's entire coastline for gas and oil exploration. California, Alaska and the Natural Resources Defense Council have filed suit with the United States Court of Appeals in Washington DC, to stop Watt's five-year Outer Continental Shelf(OCS) lease-sale programme. In a press conference in San Francisco, Governor Brown stated, "Secretary Watt is engaged in promiscuous treatment of the public trust. His fiveyear OCS plan disregards the legiti*Courtesy Office of the Governor, Sacramento, California, USA.
270
mate interests of the State of California and local governments and jeopardizes marine and coastal resources. He is an ideological zealot auctioning off the public trust before he is thrown out of office. He is a liability to the President... and should be put on a short leash." Watt's OCS programme involves one billion (US) acres offshore, ineluding 59 million acres off the coast of California. The suit contends that the plan violates the OCS Lands Act by failing to consider the concerns of state and local governments wanting to protect high risk, low potential tracts for exploration. Brown noted that by offering huge areas for sale rather than selecting potentially high yield tracts, Watt has invited court action which will result
with opposition, especially where modernization and westernization have tended to confer high status on alcohol consumption". In Sri Lanka and Thailand "the custom of abstinence is now declining except on days of religious functions". Other nations: in nationwide campaigns, Bulgaria and Hungary stress "measures to reduce demand for alcohol beverages rather than on those reducing availability". So do Norway and Sweden. Denmark regulates alcohol consumption through a high government tax in combination with health education. Where alcohol production is not a major industry, there is "less opposition to enactment and enforcement of control measures than in the big producing countries". The United Kingdom, for example, in its response, says: "A crucial issue ... is how far governments can, and should seek to, intervene in what is seen by many people as a matter of individual choice and responsibility." The statement is applicable also to such countries as Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
in delays in the leasing process. The governor said the plan should be revised to strike a balance between environmental concerns and the need to expand oil and gas reserves. Brown said the state "will cooperate and work on proper offshore activity, but not the kind that violates the public trust". Editorial Note: The above refers to the plan by the Department of the Interior to open up for oil exploration 1000 million acres of the outer continental shelf. It is a plan which aims to make the United States self-sufficient in fuel. To prevent the plan coming into effect in its existing form needs the signature of the President to block it, or for actions such as the above to slow it down, thus allowing some more time for further discussions and consideration. That is if Mr Watt will allow this extra time to materialize, for he appears to give the The Environmentalist
American people only two alternatives, which are recorded in his open letter attacking his critics. It states: "America must be prepared... It is much easier to explain to the American people why we have oil rigs off our coasts than to explain to mothers and fathers why their sons are fighting on the sands of the Middle East."
In Brief
Governor Brown's action shows that the American people do not believe that they only have a choice of two alternatives, environmental degradation or war. Such sayings of Secretary Watt, not only show a state of bankruptcy of ideas, but also a total disregard of the well being of this present as well as future generations.
Sandoz
Institute
The World Health theme for 1982 is 'Add life to years'.
The Sandoz Institute, Geneva, Switzerland has published a study under the title 'Aging 2000: A challenge for Society'. The Publication coincided with the UN Assembly on Aging held in Vienna, Austria.
Aging Population
F o o d Losses
In the late 1970s only the two German Republics, Sweden, United Kingdom and Austria, had 20 per cent of their population over the age of 60. By the year 2025, it is predicated that these 5 nations will be joined by many others, the number reaching towards nearly 40.
Italy has pledged to the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) 30 billion lire ($22 million) for the FAO Special Action Programme for the prevention of food losses. This contribution will be used to finance and implement some 26 projects in several developing countries in Africa, Asia, the Near East and Latin America. It is estimated that around 2 million people will benefit directly from the contribution.
WHO
Urban Population Projected urban population trends for the year 2000 show that Asia will have 13 out of 30 urban agglomerations with more than 10 million people. The figures below were issued by UNIS Nagkok. City
Population in millions
Tokyo Shanghai Beijing Bombay Calcutta Jakarta Seoul Madras Manila Bangkok Karachi New Delhi Tehran
24 22 19 17 16 16 14 13
On the morning of 7 June 1982, Dr Russell Peterson, President of the National Audubon Society, held a meeting of the Audubon staff and announced that the Board of Trustees had decided that the Society will move its corporate offices to the Washington DC area. One of the main reasons for this decision is based on the desire of the Society to expand its efforts in the 'activist' realm specifically with increased emphasis on Congress.
12
Unesco
12 12 11 11
During the period 6-11 September 1982, Unesco organized an international programme of experts on 'Progress and Trends in Environmental Education since the Tbilisi Conference'. The meeting discussed issues related to development of environmental education. A full report of this meeting will appear in Vol. 2, No. 4.
International Years 1985, will be 'International Youth Year'. Vol. 2, No. 3 (1982)
On the Move
In The Environmentalist (2, (2) (1982), p. 165) we printed a message from the President of the United States to IUCN supporting international conservation efforts. Today the national conservation efforts of the United States need support, and the American people are looking to the President to provide that support.
Urban Education The Education Department of the Massachusetts Audubon Society has been working closely with local school systems in providing more urban environmental education. A more detailed report will be published in a future issue of the journal.
Water D e c a d e
'Precious Water' is a new Unesco publication, this has been produced as part of the Agency's programme on the UN Water Decade.
Whaling The technical committee of the International Whaling Commission voted by 19 votes to 6 to phase out commercial whaling in the next two years. On the 24 July, the International Whaling Commission passed a complete ban on commercial whaling, this ban coming into effect in 1986, that is three years from now. Any new quotas would now need a three quarters majority of the 39 members for them to be re-introduced. This is a decision that has long been awaited by the conservation movement. However let us hope that countries wilt not discard the decision or leave the Commission.
Law o f the Sea The United States, Israel, Venezuela and Turkey voted against adoption of the convention. Many other countries abstained including the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, West Germany, Italy. France and Japan voted for the adoption. This is a very sad state of affairs for the convention had a far more comprehensive coverage than just deep sea mining. 271