High-level Conferences Research Articles

Forest law enforcement and rural livelihoods

International concern about illegal forestry activities has grown markedly. Asian, African, and European governments have held high-level regional conferences on Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG). Indonesia has signed path-breaking Memoranda of Understanding on illegal logging with the United Kingdom, China, and Norway. The Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Forum on Forests, the International Tropical Timber Organisation, and the G8 have all issued forceful statements, and incorporated the issue in their work plans. The European Commission has committed itself to formulating a European FLEG Action Plan. Japan and Indonesia have initiated an Asian Forest Partnership, with a major focus on illegal logging. Global Witness, the Environmental Investigation Agency, Transparency International, Greenpeace, Global Forest Watch, and Friends of the Earth have raised public awareness about the problem.

DEFENSE PRIORITIES IN POST-MAO PEKING

Abstract : In spite of continuing prominence naturally given to Mao Tse-Tung thought in People's Republic of China (PRC) publications -- prominence that is more than lip service -- there is little doubt that new party leadership has been reassessing its priorities and strategy for bringing China to the world's front ranks by turn of century. The reassessment is underlined by spate of over 20 high-level conferences held on critical economic and defense-related matters between winter of 1976 and summer of 1977. The overall plan is one reproposed by Chou En-Lai in his January 1975 speech during National People's Conference meeting. It involves two phases: achievement by 1980 of an independent relatively industrial and economic system, and, by year 2000, comprehensive modernization of agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology. The four modernizations of second phase are obviously interrelated. Heavy industry remains key, but it can grow only by increased investment in agriculture and light industry. The defense industry, similarly, grows only in its proper place within heavy industry. Science and technology, moreover, serve all other modernization. As to defense priorities, two basic funding problems arise. The first is percentage of national budget to be devoted directly to defense; second is appropriate allocation of resources within defense budget itself. The PRC press has published much-although only in general terms-on first of these problems, and one can risk fairly firm predictions on probable trends for coming decade. The second problem, however, is a matter of some sensitivity for China's national security and has consequently had little, if any, open discussion; one can make only enlightened guesses on subject.

The German People and Rearmament

Y subject is the attitude of the German people to participation M/1 in the defence of Western Europe and service in the armed forces to be formed under the command of General Eisenhower for that purpose. What I have to report is derived from numerous personal conversations and observations during fairly frequent visits to the Continent, and particularly to Western Germany. I have read with great interest the product of our Chatham House Study Group, Defence in the Cold War.' With the views expressed in that report I am in firm agreement, but I consider that they are too optimistic, especially about the attitude of the German people. It is surely very important that we should study carefully the quality of the common people, the raw materials of defence, from whom the fighting forces must be formed, and upon whose wholehearted support the success of any defence system depends. I think from my reading of the proceedings of high-level conferences, as well as from my reading of the Chatham House report, that all too little weight is given today to the opinion of the common people of all continental countries. My mind goes back to a social occasion in the nineteen-thirties, when the conversation turned, as it often did, to the subject of Germany. My wife said to the wife of a cabinet minister who happened to be next to her, 'Don't you think it would be a good idea if your husband took steps to get the views of the common people of Germany on this present situation and the Nazi regime?' Her reply was, 'Do you think they really matter?' Today that sounds cynical; possibly it was, but it was true. Under the Nazi regime the opinion of the common people really mattered not at all. But a great change has taken place, namely, that the present-day German Government is dependent upon the votes of the people for its continued existence, and the results of the recent elections show that it is not gaining ground. That is a powerful factor in the present position with regard to defence, and makes it of paramount importance that we should study the mood, the morale, and the quality of that raw material which is to form the basis of our European armies. One evening last November I was waiting in the reception office of a works in the Ruhr while the clerk telephoned to announce my arrival to the managing director. Outside the open door two superior type of workmen had paused on their way to clock out. One was looking over his