1.
GV EXTERIOR : Kenyatta conference centre in Nairobi
0.06

2.
SV ZOOM IN : Conference Secretary General: Dr. Mostafa Kamal Tolba
0.10

3.
SV: Chinese delegates (Wang Yueh-yi) speaking in Chinese
0.48

4.
SV: Canadian delegate at table
0.51

5.
SCU: United States delegates: James Joseph
2.00


JOSEPE: 'Combatting desertification is not easy under the best circumstance. Consequently, we recognise that desertification must be attacked as part of a ??? larger effort - one dedicated to uplifting the human spirit and man's economic condition through an intensified global development effort. The United States is firmly committed to working with the other rations in the world to achieve a new economic system...and our delegation is prepared to discuss these and other U.S. initiatives in more details as our deliberations proceed. Our Peao??? Corps is prepared to train and place, at local government request, up to 1,000 volunteers to assist in reforestation, natural resources n??? and related anti-desertification programme efforts'.




Initials JS/1830



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Chinese delegate Wang Yueh-yi, told the United Nations conference on Desertification in Nairobi on Monday (30 August) that masses of peasants in the dune-ridden Turfan basin of Western China were converted sand into vineyards. Later, the leader of the United States' delegation, James Joseph, said his country was prepared to train up to 1,000 Peace Corps Volunteers to help turn back deserts in many parts of the world.

SYNOPSIS: Delegates from more than 100 countries are attending the conference in the Kenyatta Conference Centre.

The chairman is the U.N.'s Mostafa Kamal Tolba.

Chinese Delegates, Wang Yueh-yi presented a paper entitled: 'Take the Wind Harness the Sand and Transform the Gobi'. This describes how the people of the arid Turfan basin have beaten back the Gobi desert. They've planted strips of such hardy grass species as camel born and deer horn, which cut back wind speeds and help to bind sand drifts. The peasants have also blocked the winds by planting belts of forest land ranging over more than 1,400 kilometres (870 miles) of their province. Mr. Wang Yueh-yi said these people were winning their struggle against the sand.