ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT

March 16 - A U.S.-endorsed proposal to "boost conservation efforts for sharks" was defeated after China, Russia, Japan and several developing countries argued that shark populations aren't suffering.

This is how whacky the U.N. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is: "The CITES Secretariat recommended that delegates support a proposal allowing Zambia to conduct a one-off sale of ivory while rejecting a similar request by Tanzania." The meeting is being held in Qatar.

COMMENT: Oceana, the "think tank" that advocated the shark ban has a website and a "celebrity supporters" page. (That becomes relevant when you see the bios of the Board of Directors.) The study, "Sharks in Deep Trouble," by Julia Baum, lead author of the study and a biologist at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, is the basis of this uncritical ABC article. The study is disputed by findings of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA).

March 18 - More defeats for the Lefty U.S. Envirowhackos
POLAR BEARS - A U.S.-backed proposal to ban the international trade of polar bear skins, teeth and claws was defeated Thursday by a coalition led by Canada, Norway and Greenland. There is little international market for the items. But it doesn't matter. "It's a question of commerce over conservation," says a hysterical Washington Post writer. The vote was 62 - 48 with 11 abstentions.

ATLANTIC BLUEFIN TUNA - Only 20 countries sided with the U.S. on a proposed ban on international trade of Atlantic bluefin tuna. Only the United States, Norway and Kenya supported the proposal outright. (The EU wanted a delay.)

The real problem is a reluctance to empower the UN to use endangered species to set policy for the international community after the Global Warming fiasco. From the Toronto Star, (click to enlarge) The vote wasn't even close: 68 against, with 20 in favour and 30 abstentions.

A list of NGOs (those unelected busybodies) who sought the ban. The U.S. is, according to Reuters, holding out hope for the passage of a resolution that would make climate change a factor in future decisions by the U.N. Convention.