Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meeting in Doha Qatar
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) exists to save the worlds endangered species and operates as an international mechanism for nations to come together to stop the exploitation and destruction of plants and creatures.
Decisions are based on expert scientific recommendation and controversial issues are decided by a voting system.
Last month representatives of 150 nations met in the capital of Qatar, Doha for a week.
Most issues are agreed upon by consensus, however, contentious issues are pushed to a vote.
Balloting now takes place electronically and each country has a voting button on their desk. Because the voting is electronic and less transparent than a show of hands, this system is viewed with a degree of suspicion.
To build confidence, the chairman carries out a few dummy runs and on day nine of the conference as crucial votes loomed, delegates were invited to check the electronic balloting device.
The chairman announced a simple question to check that the buttons were working properly:
Is Doha the capital of Qatar?
The chairman informed the delegates that to vote “yes” they should select button number two.
Once the results were in, it transpired that Croatia and Cameroon had voted “no” and China had abstained.
Hilarious.
Croatia and Cameroon’s delegates were unwilling to explain why they had learnt little of the city in which they had spent the previous week.
The Chinese delegation remained inscrutable and said nothing.
Tags: Politics, Science & Medical