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BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY DAY - May 22, 2007

Lead institution: Stetson University College of Law

Lecture by Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee and past Chair of the Inuit Cirumpolar Conference (ICC) Sheila Watt-Cloutier is past Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC), which represents the interests of Inuit in northern Canada, Greenland, Alaska, and Chukotka (Russian Federation). Ms. Watt-Cloutier has a background in counseling, education, and human development and has made a lifetime commitment to improving health and education in Aboriginal communities where youth issues are a priority. She contributed significantly to Silatunirmut: The Pathway to Wisdom, the 1992 review of education in Nunavik, and she co-wrote, produced, and co-directed the youth awareness video Capturing Spirit: The Inuit Journey. In 1995-1998, Ms. Watt-Cloutier was Corporate Secretary of Makivik Corporation, set up under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Land Claims Agreement. She was twice elected President of ICC Canada, becoming international Chair of ICC in 2002. At ICC Canada, she was spokesperson for a coalition of northern Indigenous Peoples that persuaded states to sign the 2001 Stockholm Convention, which bans persistent organic pollutants, such as DDT, that contaminate the Arctic food web. For this work she received the first WANGO Environment Award. Ms. Watt-Cloutier is heavily engaged in climate change initiatives to persuade states to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases. Join Nobel Peace prize nominee Sheila Watt-Cloutier, past Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC), in the Grand Ballroom of the Mahaffey Theater at the Progress Energy Center, May 22, 2007 at 7pm.

Sheila Watt-Cloutier

Panel Respondents To Sheila Watt-Cloutier

Royal C. Gardner (Moderator): is a Professor of Law and Director of the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida. He teaches and conducts research in the areas of environmental and international environmental law. Prior to joining the Stetson faculty, he worked for the Department of Defense, where he participated in negotiating international agreements with Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Belarus to facilitate the dismantlement of the former Soviet Union's nuclear weapons. Wetland law and policy is a particular focus of his work. In 1999-2001, Professor Gardner was appointed to the National Research Council's Committee on Mitigating Wetland Losses. He serves as the North American representative to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands’ Scientific and Technical Review Panel. In 2006, he was the recipient of the National Wetlands Award for Education and Outreach.

Wil Burns : Before coming to Santa Clara, Wil Burns was an Associate Professor in the International Environmental Policy Program at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California. He also serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy www.jiwlp.com and Co-Chair of the International Environmental Law Committee of the American Society of International Law. His research focuses on climate change and international wildlife law, as well as operationalization of the precautionary principle in international environmental law regimes.

Annie Petsonk: Coordinates Environmental Defense's advocacy efforts on international environmental law, international agreements and institutions. Works to develop international laws that provide economic incentives for environmental protection. Annie holds a J.D., Harvard Law School and serves as a Adjunct professor, George Washington University and University of Maryland law schools (1994-present); trial attorney in Policy, Legislation and Special Litigation, US Department of Justice (1990-1995); environmental law unit, United Nations Environment Programme.

Royal C. Gardner (Moderator)

Wil Burns (connecting remotely by computer)

Annie Petsonk (connecting remotely by computer)