They did so at dusk, 349.5 km off the Brazilian coast, on the edge of the Exclusive Economic Zone, “in order to avoid any logistical, operational, environmental and economic damage to the Brazilian State”. In its press release, the Brazilian Navy paid tribute to the aircraft carrier and its crews “worthy servants of the French and Brazilian navies”. The export licence for the ex-Foch in 2000 specified that the conditions for dismantling the Sao Paulo aircraft carrier had to be authorised in advance by the French authorities. In a way, France is an accomplice in this disaster decided and assumed by Brazil.
3:30 p.m
Yesterday, 315 km off the Brazilian coast, the Dutch tug ALP Guard was replaced by the Brazilian Navy deep sea-going tug Purus. The Brazilian Navy staff stated in its press release that considering the state of deterioration of the hull of the aircraft carrier NAeL Sao Paulo, ex-Foch, it would not allow her return to a port or to Brazilian territorial waters. Robin des Bois believes that a scuttling operation is being prepared.
After she was banned by Türkiye on August 26, 2022 and after she was banned by Brazil in October 2022, the NAeL Sao Paulo, ex-Foch, remained for three months off the port of Suape, State of Pernambuco, in the limit of the Brazilian territorial waters; a court injunction prohibits her to leave for the international waters.
On January 19, 2023, the end-of-life aircraft carrier under tow of the Dutch-flagged ALP Guard escaped, heading east, at a speed of 3/4 knots. She was briefly followed by the Brazilian Navy patrol boat NPA Macau P71. The patrol boat then sailed back to the port of Suape. The convoy is about to leave the Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone.
“On the Trail” n°35, the defaunation bulletin
1,420 events with references, checked, analysed, commented and strenghtened between January 1 and March 31, 2022
368 iconographic documents.
10 maps and historical archives
(pdf, 218 pages – 7.4 Mo)
As of December 18, 2022, 563 ship departures from the Ukrainian ports of Chornomorsk, Odessa and Yuzhny have enabled the export of 14,194,211 tons of agricultural produce under the Agreement of July 22, 2022 between the United Nations, Ukraine, Russia and Turkey. The European Union (6,251,402 t), China (1,876,057 t) and Turkey (1,831,283 t) are the main importers. Intended to fight the global rise in foodstuff prices, the Agreement will also serve to fight thirst and beer shortages with the export of more than 600,000 tons of barley.
Press release CITES CoP19 n°6 – Continuation and End
Panama
Arrk !
The whole world agrees to oppose deforestation in the Amazon. However, for the Brazilwood (Paubrasilia echinata), CITES is sensitive to the music of chainsaws and is not concerned about the disappearance of Brazil’s last Atlantic forests. Among the trees that have fallen victim is the Brazilwood, whose wood is used for bows and bow blanks for violins and other string instruments (see the paragraph on Brazilwood in the press release “Panama, the great sellout of wild animals and plants”, Nov 14, 2022).
Press release CITES CoP19 n°5
Panama
Diplomatic tensions
By taking a close look at all the proposals for Appendix I or Appendix II listings, the Chinese delegation found 15 “inaccuracies” with regard to the qualifications of Hong Kong, Macao and especially Taiwan. “Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. The “one China” principle is one of the fundamental norms governing international relations. Any act that creates “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan” violates international law.”
Press release CITES CoP19 n°4
Panama
Pineapple sea cucumber (Thelenota ananas), giant sea cucumber (T. anax) and red-lined sea cucumber (T. rubralineata)
The proposal by the European Union, the Seychelles and the United States to list the 3 species of the genus Thelenota in Appendix II was accepted by 97 votes in favour with 16 against and 15 abstentions. The listing will come into force after 18 months. France, which initiated the proposal, stressed the key role of sea cucumbers in ecosystems. In the seabed, sea cucumbers have a role comparable to that of earthworms.
Press release CITES CoP19 n°3
Panama
On November 16, authorities arrested Masphal Kry, Director of Wildlife and Biodiversity at Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, in the transit zone of John F. Kennedy Airport, New York. Masphal Kry was traveling to Panama. He was expected to be the head of Cambodia’s delegation to the plenary session of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).
Press release CITES CoP19 n°2
Panama
Ipê. Latin America and the Caribbean including French Guiana
The proposal by Colombia, Panama and the European Union to list ipês in Appendix II (regulation of international trade) was adopted by 86 votes in favour, with 17 against and 18 abstentions. Appendix II will not eliminate the harvesting of ipês. Their marketing will be subject to annoying administrative checks for forest operators and buyers. The smugglers’ activities will also be more complicated.
Press release CITES CoP19 n°1
The 19th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) open today, Monday, November 14, in Panama City, the capital city of Panama, and will end on Friday, November 25. The global legal wildlife trade is worth an annual minimum 100 billion dollars. Trafficking fuelled by poaching and smuggling brings in between 7 billion and 23 billion US$ each year to international mafias.
Did the explosions followed by gas leaks on 26 September 2022 on the pipelines of the international consortium Nord Stream linking Russia and Germany awake, displace or dislocate chemical munitions dumped near or nearby them?
Shipbreaking #67
April-May-June 2022
62 pages, 98 sources, 231 photos
New study shows: EU frogs’ legs imports puts a serious risk to frogs in Asia and Eastern Europe
The first meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is taking place in Vienna (Austria) from today. The list of the 62 State parties is attached.
Austria, Ireland, Malta and the Holy See stand out as representing Europe in this Treaty.
Finland, Germany, Liechtenstein, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland are participating in the Vienna meeting as observers, thus showing their interest in this Treaty, which is based on the Chemical Weapons Convention.
None of the nuclear weapon States are present in Vienna. France, the UK and the USA even issued a joint statement on July 7, 2017, totally against the Treaty. ” France, the United Kingdom and the United States have not taken part in the negotiation of the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons. We do not intend to sign, ratify or ever become party to it…”