The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

World Wetlands Day 1998 in the Bureau

The staff of the Ramsar Bureau, aware of the commendable efforts being made all around the world to make World Wetlands Day '98 a memorable occasion, could in conscience do no less than its best to demonstrate the same enthusiasm and dedication.  On 2 February 1998, therefore, just before noon, the computers got turned off, the corks got popped, AND . . .

Bill Phillips, the Deputy Secretary General, showed off his fabulous Ramsar silk underwear, custom-made for him out of Brisbane COP6 scarves by his colleagues in Canberra.

The colorful waistcoat is also a legacy of Brisbane -- the nine million volunteer workers in the convention hall, March 1996, wore these things to stand out from the crowd . . . which they emphatically did.  Bill's waistcoat is special, though, because it's been signed by most of the people who attended the COP, apparently.

Lest the theme of strange Ramsar clothing be dropped by the chorus, Julia Tucker and Maryse Mahy joined Bill by showing up in Ramsar hat, Ramsar scarf, Ramsar t-shirts, and what not else . . . don't ask.

Festive Goings On!

And here's the whole staff present that Fateful Day (from left in the top picture): Julia Tucker, Bill Phillips, Sandra Hails, Rebecca D'Cruz, Valerie Higgins and Ahoua Traore, Dwight Peck, Annette Pavlic, Paulette Kennedy, Maryse Mahy, Montse Riera, Jamshed Kazi, Raquel Siguenza.  (Absent: Montserrat Carbonell, who was taking the photograph; Delmar Blasco, Tim Jones, and Anada Tiéga, all on mission, and Mireille Katz)

Notice how many of the dedicated Ramsar staff seem to be more interested in the waterfowl migrating southward outside the windows than in having their pictures taken.

For further information, please contact the Ramsar Convention Bureau, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ramsar@hq.iucn.org). Posted reluctantly 13 February 1998,  Dwight Peck, Ramsar.