The news about the impending (for real, this time!!) wildlife protection bill in
the Philippines is potentially quite momentous for Conchology: this country is
still producing new species all the time, and provides a signifigant portion of
the worldwide Specimen Shell supply!  However, let us hope their government has
the wisdom to differentiate between the small, sustainable harvest of shells for
collectors, and the mass, container-load industry of Commercial Shells.  I have
just written the Senator, who is also a jounalist and movie actor, and pointed
out to her the difference between the two: perhaps this was unwise - However, i
did not strongly condemn the commercial shell trade, but did point out that if
molluscs were in fact to be included as "wildlife" under the bill,  it would be
a pity to impose a blanket ban on both the massive commercial and the small
specimen shell collecting and export activities. It will be interesting to see
if she answers at all - perhaps molluscs are effectively "under the radar" so
far as the PI government is concerned ::--)).

From the Still-White North (having a beautiful winter up here!!);
-Ross Mayhew.