SMM2015 Paradigm-Shift Thursday

Again just sampling some highlights here:

Here is David Mattila of the Secretariat of the International Whaling Commission talking about the IWC's big whale disentanglement initiative:

Today’s plenary featured a stunning and inspiring presentation by Claudio Campagna which looked at how language frames the debate around the biodiversity conservation and how, in particular, this important area of concern has been subverted by the concept of ‘sustainable development’. A few of the speaker’s key slides are copied 

. 

Claudio considered how the main internatuional treaties had moved over time
from a focus on environment to development

Another great point:

Here's Claudio.

Here's the final contribution.

Professor Orbach and his fine mustache

Among other things the good Professor contrasted the US law as it applies to terrestrial animals - you can shoot a bear in any US state - with that applying to marine mammals which are highly protected. He put the roots of this higher level of protection (enshrined in the US Marine Mammal Protection Act) in the media of the 1980's which included the 'flipper' series. He also made a few pithy comments on the International Whaling Commisson and the moratorium that it oversees.