Here's a link to the opinion the US Supreme Court handed down on Wed in the Navy sonar case for those of you interested in how science, law and politics intersect: http://www.eswr.com/cts/supct/winterop_supremecourt_111208.pdf The Court overturned the lower court's injunction that had required the US Navy to apply mitigation measures in using sonar when whales were present on grounds that the court had not adequately weighed the Navy's need for readiness training for national security in balancing the interests. ************************************** Alison Rieser Director, Graduate Ocean Policy Program Professor, Department of Geography University of Hawai'i at Manoa 440 Saunders Hall, 2424 Maile Way Honolulu, HI 96822 rieser@hawaii.edu (808) 956-8467 GOPC web site: http://www.geography.hawaii.edu/projects/gopc/ **************************************