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THE VIEW FROM NAIROBI AND LONDON

On 11 September 2001 I was in Nairobi, standing in a semi-circle with 35 African conservation biologists, riveted by television broadcasts of the debacle unfolding at home. It was a long and difficult night. We were all shaken by the tragedy but the next day we were back on task, working to improve linkages among African conservation biologists in general, and to form an African Section of SCB in particular. Two days later I was in London with another group of conservation biologists, sharing in the three minutes of silence that marked European mourning and solidarity with the United States, before we continued our work on a European SCB Section.

Being away from home and separated from my loved ones during this tragedy gave me a tiny taste of the life of a refugee and it was very unpleasant. Nevertheless, sharing this experience with overseas colleagues had some positive aspects; notably, it bolstered our commitment to SCB's process of internationalization. Isolation is the breeding ground of xenophobia and barbarism and thus becoming a global community is the long-term path toward a more peaceful world for humanity and all biota.

Malcolm "Mac" Hunter, President

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