Call For Contributions To [square brackets]
Submissions due 30 August 2010
[square brackets] is a newsletter produced jointly by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) (www.cbd.int) and the CBD Alliance (www.cbdalliance.org).
The newsletter is meant to facilitate timely dialogue among civil society stakeholders on cutting edge biodiversity
issues, from both policy (advocacy and decision-making) and practical (implementation) perspectives. The 3rd Edition was
published just prior to the SBSTTA negotiations in Nairobi (www.cbd.int/doc/newsletters/square-brackets/square-brackets-2009-11.html )
We invite short articles from members of civil society all over the world (including non-governmental organizations,
social movements, Indigenous organizations and representatives, local communities) for the next issue. This will be
published on the eve of the 10th meeting of the CBD COP at Nagoya. The focus of the new issue will be ‘the future of the
CBD’, both for the decisions made at COP 10, and beyond. We seek ‘future-oriented’ submissions that look at ways and
means to strengthen the future of not only the CBD, but also to expand and deepen its influence in the rest of the
multilateral world.
Articles will be selected and edited by an editorial board consisting of representatives of Indigenous and
non-governmental groups, and staff from the SCBD. Potential contributors are advised to review the guidelines for
articles appended below.
Deadline for submissions is 30 August, 2010 Please send submissions electronically to both jdempsey@interchange.ubc.ca and johan.hedlund@cbd.int
Guidelines
Length: 700-800 words
Topics: We seek articles that go both inside and outside the ‘box’ of the upcoming COP decisions. Inside the box means
relevant interventions on decisions that are going to be made at the COP, and outside the box means articles going
beyond, meaning interventions and creative proposals about what the CBD should do, and what its future could hold. Both
critical and utopian visions are welcome!
The COP/MOP agenda can be found here (www.cbd.int/mop5/ and www.cbd.int/cop10/)
Tone: Articles must be written in a constructive and analytical manner, and contribute to a deeper understanding of the
issue. Contributions must not identify or target particular Parties on issues under negotiation. Opinions are more than
welcome, but total coverage of topic in the newsletter will aim to present diverse and balanced viewpoints and arguments
that enable the readers to formulate their own informed opinion.
ENDS