The Public Interest Environmental Law Conference, organized by volunteers of Land Air Water, a student environmental law society, and the semi-annual Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide drew more than 3,000 activists, attorneys, scientists and students to the University from more than 50 countries this past weekend.
Robert Kennedy Jr., named one of Time Magazine’s “Heroes for the Planet” and Vandana Shiva, founder of the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology in Dehra Dun, of India, spoke at the event’s keynote address in the EMU Ballroom last Thursday. Such a large crowd showed up that an overflow area was set up in 150 Columbia so people could view a televised version of the address.
This year, PIELC coincided with the E-LAW conference. A group of lawyers from 10 countries gathered at the University 15 years ago, and their meeting resulted in the development of E-LAW, an organization founded to help lawyers in developing countries protect human rights, said E-LAW spokeswoman Maggie Keenan. The conference, which was open to the public, provided a rich and welcoming atmosphere of global communication for the protection of the environment, Keenan said.
Environmental lawyers from 25 countries took part in the E-LAW conference this year. With them, they brought knowledge and experience to share in PIELC workshops that addressed the full spectrum of environmental law and advocacy.
On Saturday, E-LAW participants gathered in Gerlinger Alumni Lounge to mix and mingle as a way to wrap up the 10-day conference.
Fernando Pineda of Baja, Calif., celebrated a major victory in the protection of land and water during the conference. During a six-year period he has worked to secure the protection of land through community outreach, use of legal strategy and working with private property owners. Last week, Mexican President Felipe Calderon announced an order to protect the water as well. Now we have everything protected, said Pineda, the water area, the coast and the people.