IUCN World Conservation Congress

In addition to the biodiversity discussions during the Conference of Parties 9 next month, IUCN is also holding the World Conservation Congress in Barcelona on 5-14 October 2008. If you are a student, start the conservation through your allowance of 100 Euros to register. In my case, I am looking for possible sponsors to shoulder my registration expenses, though I might be in the thick of my internship by the time. But who knows? Don't be surprised if you bump into me along Las Ramblas.

The importance of biodiversity

Take a look at IUCN's January 2008 magazine that focuses on biodiversity. The title asks, 'A world without biodiversity?' One professor in my university raised the argument that biodiversity is a 'symbolic problem.' Does it actually matter if the panda slides into the pit of extinction? Did the world change when the last Dodo died? While I'm at it, for diversity's sake, shall we bring the dinosaurs back to life? On the other hand, imagine a world of uniformity. But that is begging the question. Are you willing to look like the guy beside you? For possible answers to those questions and a crash course on the topic, click here.